much valued by those numerous cultivators who have hitherto regarded this regrettable tendency on the part of the far-famed Scarlet Gem as a serious drawback. But it is also a flower of but limited dimensions at the best, and unlike most of its highly-coloured contemporaries it does not attain to a commanding height. The variety Queen Alexandra is a much more vigorous production, and one that I think is likely to endure. I have been much gratified by the achievements of my own beautiful namesake this season in this and other gardens, also by its prominence, of which I have heard much, at the Holland House and other Metropolitan shows. It is especially effective, I find, when grown between such varieties as Sadie Burpee and the Scarlet Gem.

One of the most attractive of the pure white Sweet Peas, and probably the most recent of any consequence, is Nora Unwin, which has the exquisitely waved or crenulated form of Countess Spencer, a variety which has given us many attractive derivatives.

THE ALPINE GARDEN.

SEDUM BREVIFOLIUM POTTSII. THE smaller Sedums are valuable for many purposes in the garden, and are especially de. sirable in the rock-garden, where they can be employed for covering dry rocks, on which few other plants will grow, or as a carpet for dwarf, early-flowering bulbous subjects. One of the prettiest of these dwarf species is Sedum brevi. folium, a charming little Stonecrop not more than an inch or two in height, even when its white flowers are expanded, and having thick, short leaves that are charmingly tinted with white and chocolate. Still prettier is its variety S. brevifolium Pottsii, which was, I believe, introduced from the Continent by the late Mr. Potts, Fettes Mount, Lasswade, Edinburgh. This variety is smaller in all its parts than the type. The leaves, which have a white, mealy in parts pleasingly tinted

are

FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE. ODONTOGLOSSUM PESCATOREI, LINDEN, Versus O. NOBILE, REICHB. F. OF late years a tendency seems to have sprung up on the part of certain writers to replace the name of Odontoglossum Pescatorei, Linden, by that of O. nobile, Rchb. f. It is, however, beyond question that the first of the above-mentioned specific names is the one which ought to be retained. The following quotation from Pescatorea (1560), of which the younger Reichenbach was a distinguished contributor, supports this view: "The original description of this species was given by Reichenbach fil., in Linnæa, xxii., p. 850 (1849). But under the name Odontoglossum nobile the word 'callis, by a typographical error, appeared in Face of cavinis [sic]. Further, the labellum is sad to be purple, and the rest of the floral whorls rose-coloured." On this account Dr. Lindley was unable to recognise with certainty the identity of O. Pescatorei, Linden, and O. nobile, Reichb, f. The latter author, however, has since then dennitely stated that the same plant is designated by the two names, and he has generously abandoned the right of priority and adopted the specific name Fescatorei, under which the plant is now generally known. Moreover, whenever Reichenbach has had occasion to describe a new variety of O. Pescatorei he has always used this name (e.g., O Pescatorei Leucoxanthum, Gardeners' Chronicle, 1587, p 606; O. Pescatorei Schröderianum, Gudeners Magazine, 1892, p. 135, and other examples could be cited).

Having regard to the above facts, there can remain no doubt as to O. Pescatorei being the name which should be retained for this species. Perhaps this short note, by correcting some Errors of citation or description that have recently appeared, may serve to conduce to the more [ise naming of Orchids. L. Linden.

To acknowledge the right of an author to withdraw a prior name on relative'y slight grounds is n in accordance with modern usage.-ED].

with shades of red and brown. Owing to its being so dwarf, the plant is especially valuable as a carpet or ground-work for taller subjects. Unfortunately, it has proved somewhat tender in some parts of the country, especially in those which are subjected to a heavy winter rainfall combined with a low temperature. A dry soil and a sunny position should be given this beautiful little Stonecrop.

POLYGONUM VACCINIFOLIUM. UNDER ordinary conditions this Knotweed, which has been described by an authority as "one of the most useful plants in cultivation for rockwork," is easily grown, but in some gardens it is found almost impossible to cultivate it successfully. Few plants in the rock garden are more pleasing than this Whortleleaved Knotweed from the Himalayas, with its prostrate habit, its neat, glossy leaves, and its long spikes of pretty rose flowers. A wellgrown specimen hanging over a stone or small rock has an extremely pretty appearance. The growths, which are of a woody nature, are often destroyed by late frosts. This is particularly the case in the north, where there are few gardens in which this beautiful Knotweed is to be seen.

In my garden I find it succeeds in a cool and partially shaded position, in a soil that is well. drained, although the plant requires plenty of moisture and perfect shelter from cold, cutting winds. I have a plant of this species that has been grown in the same spot without disturb. ance for two years. It is planted close to the base of a 1ockery that faces almost due east, and protection from north winds is provided by a high wall about 6 feet away, and from the east by one about 20 feet distant. Another specimen planted on an open rockery succumbed in the spring.

ERIGERON GLAUCUS.

ALTHOUGH frequently listed in hardy plant catalogues, this species is not often met with in gardens, and this is the more difficult to understand, as there are many flowers of less beauty and more troublesome of cultivation that are largely planted. Many of the newer Erigerons, or Fleabanes, are much inferior as a garden plant to this once well-known species. There is in my garden a plant which I have had for at least 15 or 16 years, and which, after being for some 13 or 14 years in my former gar. den, was removed to my present one, where it is now thriving.

Erigeron glaucus grows from 6 inches to a foot high, and produces a number of rather large, purple-coloured flowers well above its glaucous leaves. It is not very particular in the matter of situation, and will flower in a spot facing north with apparently almost equal freedom to a plant in one facing south. The species is a native of Western North America, whence it was introduced as far back as 1812.

Propagation can be effected by seeds, division, and cuttings.

A variety of E. glaucus, named sem, erflorens, is mentioned in the list of new garden plants of the years 1905, in the Appendix to the Kew Bulletin of 1906. This is said to be "a dwarf, floriferous variety," and to come from California. It is described in the Revue Horticole from the garden of M. Ph. de Vilmorin, Verrières, France. S. Arnott, Sunnymead, Dum. fries.

THE SUNLESS SEASON.

THE Rothamsted Agricultural Station's meteorological records show that the season of 1907 has been exceptionally sunless and cold. The bright sunshine for the nine months, January to September inclusive, amounted to 1,356 hours, being 43 hours less than the aver age record at this station. The four months of January, February, March, and September, each gave an excess of sunshine, while each of the other five months, April to August inclusive, recorded a deficiency. These months included the more active growing period of the year, with the blooming fruiting and maturing time of most of the fruit crops.

The total rainfall at Rothamsted for the nine months amounted to 16.68 inches, being 3.42 inches less than the average for the past 54 years in this neighbourhood, which is equivalent to a deficiency of 345 tons of water on each acre of land. The three months of April May and June each gave an excess of rainfall compared with the average, while the other six months each recorded a deficiency of moisture.

The mean shade temperature showed four months above average and five months below the average in warmth.

Under these weather conditions we find that while Cherry trees and most stone fruits, including the Wild Sloe, as a rule, produced abundance of blossom, but very little of it "set"; consequently in this district there was a great deficiency of matured fruit of these kinds.

Strawberries responded to the abundant rains of April May and June, and a good average quantity of fruit was produced, but the sunless condition of the usual ripening period almost proved disastrous; a spell of warmth, however, quickly brought the crop forward, although the fruit lacked colour and flavour.

Apples of most varieties are an abundant crop as far as numbers of fruit are concerned; in fact many trees are greatly overladen with fruit, although almost without exception the Apples are extremely small and flavourless. Even Cox's Orange Pippin and the Beauty of Bath this year fail to sustain their reputation for quality and richness of juice.

It would appear that while the moist, calm weather enabled the blossoms to "set for fruit, the excessive cold nights chilled the sap as it ascended to the growing parts of the trees, with the result that the foliage in many instances curled up and became blighted. The writer saw some Apple trees which were exposed to chilling north-easterly winds with their leaves in a condition as if they had been scorched by a fire, and with the branches heavily laden with poor shivelled-up fruit, while Apple trees on either side of them that were protected from the cold by a high brick wall were yielding very fair sized fruit, and none of the leaves were curled or blighted.

The lack of bright sunshine in the daytime appeared to result in a deficient assimilation of carbon from the atmosphere by the leaves of the Apple trees; consequently there was a corresponding want of development of the carbo. hydrates in the fruit, hence the small size and poor flavour.

Blackberries on the hedges promised a fair crop, but the fruit is ripening very badly; the berries are small and tasteless.

Hedge Nuts and Filberts are a scanty crop in this district. J. J. Willis, Harpenden.

Large specimens are extensively used out-ofdoors for planting in the large mixed flower-beds that are now frequently met with in public parks and gardens, or for plunging in the grass. As simple bedding plants, many of the varieties are suited for ordinary summer use, and they are largely used for furnishing window-boxes, draping of balconies, &c.

The present type of Ivy-leaved Pelargonium is a comparatively recent one: the first of the class was the variety König Albert, raised by Herr Oscar Liebmann, of Dresden. It was distributed in this country in 1875 by the late Mr. William Bull, of Chelsea, and although the price of each plant was 15s., it sold readily. In colour the flowers of König Albert were a bright violetpink. Though several new varieties were distributed within the next few years, they were all too much alike, and it was not until 1880 that the first decided "break" appeared. This was seen in Gloire d'Orleans, a variety with rose-red blossoms. It was raised by M. Crousse, who the following year distributed another variety named after Madame Crousse, characterised by a loose, trailing habit, with salmon-pink flowers. This is still one of the most popular of all Ivyleaved Pelargoniums grown for market purposes, and probably the only other varieties cultivated equally extensively are Souvenir de Charles Turner, sent out by the late Mr. Robert Owen, of Maidenhead, and Galilée, raised by M. Lemoine, of Nancy, and put into commerce in 1887.

After Madame Crousse a large number of varieties were raised on the Continent, some of which are still favourites. Judging by the stiff habit of growth and the round shape of the flowers of many Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums, they contain an admixture of the Zonal type, in some cases perhaps to a very small amount. circumstance will account for the bright colours of many of their flowers.

This

Instances of direct crosses between the members of these two sections of Pelargoniums are to be found in Achievement, a variety having cherry-pink coloured flowers, and one extensively cultivated for bedding and market purposes; Alliance, with blush coloured flowers; and Chingford Rose, with rosy-pink blossoms. Several English cultivators appear to have raised varieties having a similar parentage as that of Alliance, and some of them were exhibited at the recent Holland Park Show.

The list of varieties of Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums in cultivation is an extensive one, and it is a difficult matter to make a selection, particularly as many are alike. The following with their colours are distinct, and amongst the best: Beauty of Castle Hill, soft rose; Colonel BadenPowell, blush lilac; Corden's Glory, scarlet; Galilée, rich rose-pink; Giroflée, magentapurple; Hector Giacomelli, pink, feathered with crimson; Lamartine, orange-scarlet; Leopard, lilac-pink, and blotched with crimson; Murillo, violet-crimson; Princess Victoria, pale lilac ; Resplendent, crimson shaded with magenta (the flowers are very large); Ryecroft Surprise, pink; Sabrina, scarlet; Souvenir de Charles Turner, reddish-pink; The Queen, salmon-red. The purest of the white flowered varieties with which I am acquainted is Merimée, a novelty sent out by M. Lemoine some years ago; it is but little known. The petals are almost white, with dark featherings just at their bases. W.

AMPHICOME EMODI.

THIS Bignonaceous plant (see fig. 114) grows at high elevations in India. It was introduced to British gardens in 1852, and in the most sheltered positions in favoured localities it will succeed out-of-doors. Generally, however, the species is treated as a greenhouse plant, and it is very ornamental when cultivated in pots. The plants grow about 1 feet high, the flowering stems producing rose-coloured flowers with a slight suffusion of orange. When the species was exhibited by Messrs. Jas. Veitch and Sons before the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society on June 25 last it granted an Award of Merit. The specimen shown in the illustration is 18 months old from the seed.

was

amongst them if the returns are to show a profit. I am strongly of opinion that far more care and conscientiousness should be exercised.by those persons who sell the crowns wholesale. If the flower is not present in the crown, no system of forcing can produce it, and growers and packers should be very careful to include only such crowns as from experience they can recognise as flowering crowns. I can generally select the crowns that will give good sprays of bloom, with stiff long stems. These I plant first, and the thinner and weaker crowns later by themselves; the contrast between the two grades is great. Some few years ago my practice was to force Lily of the Valley quickly at a high temperature, but I now grow them slowly in a moderate degree of warmth, for I find the results

MARKET GARDENING.

FORCING LILY OF THE VALLEY. THE first point of importance in the forcing of Lily of the Valley is the quality of the crowns. When one orders a weekly consignment of, say, 2,500 of retarded crowns and pays full value for them, some little anxiety is felt as to the condition of the crowns when received, and also how many of second and even of third grade will be found amongst them. Retarded crowns of Lily of the Valley are very expensive, and their high price does not admit of any inferior crowns

are much better with less heat, the blooms being finer, the foliage darker and more robust, the stems stiffer, longer, and more erect. The crowns are placed in the forcing case, which is an enclosed cupboard under the staging. The cases are provided with evaporating pans, and have flow and return 4-inch pipes passing through them. The plants are kept in this dark cupboard until the flower-spikes appear well through the crowns, with a stem 2 to 3 inches long. At this stage the doors are opened during the night-time, but they are closed again in the morning. Damping or watering is afforded according to the condition of the pots or boxes

a

in the matter of moisture. The flowers and the flage under this treatment grow in strength and colour daily, and when the blooms are almost expanded the plants are removed from the cases and placed under lights on the stage above. The lights are opened slightly and the plants are shaded from bright sun-light. Growth quickly develops, and long-stemmed well-developed flowers are harvested from the best crowns, with foliage that can withstand the cold atmosphere in florists' shops, &c. I have often seen Lily of the Valley flowers droop and fade quickly when exposed for sale through being forced too hard and without being afterwards gradually inured to colder atmosphere. Another point in favour of a moderate degree of heat in forcing this.flower lies in the fact that less water is needed, for excessive waterings ren. der the stems, foliage, and flowers soft and short-lived. Lily of the Valley flowers are always more or less expensive when out of season, and the short life engendered through hard forcing causes their sale to be greatly diminished. The carriage of a case of 2,500 crowns from London to the Midlands costs 7s. 4d., but the same number is conveyed from Hamburg for 5s. 5d., the weight of both cases being the same within a few pounds. This seems to me another striking illustration of how our railway officials hamper British trade by their strangely varying a.id apparently very unfair charges. The home grower is sufficiently handicapped by alien importations and competition, without receiving a further check from excessive railway charges. Birmingham.

POTATO TRIALS.

Is Potato experiments are to be of much value they must be carried on for several years and the seed tubers of the different varieties planted must all be grown under the same conditions. These are the lines on which the Edinburgh and East of Scotland College of Agriculture has been working for a number of years. On Satur. day, September 5, the final inspection for the season took place, when the second early and late varieties were inspected. There was a large and representative gathering of well-known agri. ulturists and a few prominent horticulturists. Mr. William Bruce, Director of County Work, conducted the party, there being also present Mr. James Wyllie, of Cockburnspath, convener of the County Work Committee and one of the directors of the coilege. The experiments em. braced 70 plots, which had been planted to test the cropping qualities of the various varieties, the effects of spraying, artificial manuring, cut sets versus whole sets, and planting at different distances apart. A rather hurried inspection was made of a number of cooked dishes of tubers of the different sorts, but Mr. Bruce did not seem to attach much value to the results, as he thought such work would be much better done the college buildings under better conditions and when more time could be given to it. The following is the official statement respecting the conditions under which the trials made

were

"The Potatos are grown in the ordinary Course of the rotation on Pinkie Hill Farm, near Edinburgh, and the cultural treatment was the same as given to the farmer's crop.

Manuring for variety trials.-30 tons of short stable and byre dung, ploughed in during the winter; 6 cwt. of a special Potato manure. Analysis-Amm., 4 to 5 per cent. ; phospate, 20 to 22 per cent.; sulp. potash, 10 to 11 per cent. In order to secure uniformity, the land was ridged and manure sown with a double-drill and manure-distributing machine.

I suggested to Mr. Bruce that his dressing

His an

of farmyard manure was abnormal. swer was that it was not of particularly good quality.

Seed. The seed was grown on last year's trial. plots, which were in the adjoining field. It was all carefully selected, counted and weighed by the college staff. The seed was planted at the rate of 20 cwt. per acre, or 56 lb. per full plot. The same number of sets was placed in each drill, which is exactly 1 pole, a full plot being 4 drills, or 1-40 acre. Most of the varieties have now been on trial for three years."

The produce of each plot was sorted out and placed on the ground in Potato boxes for the visitors to inspect. The ware was dressed over 17-inch riddle, the seed over 14 inch; what passed through 1 inch was classed as chats, all diseased tubers being picked out dressing was done and placed by themselves. II.-Experiment with Second Early Varieties (100 sets, 14 inches apart per drill).

Yield in lbs. on 3 poles. Ware. Seed. Chats. Dis'd.

as the

Total per acre.

Tn. ct. lb.

(9) British Queen

9 10 53

(8) Dalmeny Radium.. 231

10 10 0

9 11 101

11 10 0

8 5 80

(12) Russet Queen

9 4 32

(5) Evergood

11

10

8 64 7 96 1 101

(duplicate plot)

(8) Dalmeny Radium.. 224 (duplicate plot)

(10) The Laird

111300

9 14 32

Mr. Bruce explained the plan adopted to secure a fair trial. Two-ounce whole sets were planted, and four-ounce sets cut longitudinally in two were planted as cut sets. This gave exactly the same weight of seed tubers per acre in each case. Mr. Bruce also pointed out that the produce of cut sets invariably gave a large proportion of ware tubers. I have always contended that this is one of the causes of Scotch seed being better than English seed. Scotch growers are, and have always been, given to planting cut seed, and my argument is that the resulting effect of persisting in this practice is in favour of heavier crops and larger tubers as against the planting of small sets. It must be remembered that cut seed is more suited for planting under the climatic conditions of Scotland than under those that obtain further south.

ARTIFICIAL MANURING.

Ten plots were set aside to test 10 different mixtures. The mixture recommended by the Board of Agriculture gave the best results last year, and this year the yield from the plot where it was applied is very near the top. The contents are as follow, and Mr. Bruce remarked that he considered it "a good all-round mixture." It is as follows:- cwt. sulphate of ammonia, cwt. nitrate of soda, 2 cwt. pure dissolved

bones, 2 cwt. superphosphate, cwt. muriate of potash (92 per cent.). I hope the college authori ties will observe how the Potatos grown with the different mixtures of artificial manures keep during the winter, and also what the tubers are like when cooked.

The outstanding feature of the trials was the care and thoroughness with which all the work was done. Duplicate plots to check the results of the first plots were grown, and even the produce of the different rows was weighed up separately in the manure experiments.

One thing that impressed me as a horticulturist was that quite a number of varieties which I knew gave excellent results in gardens were found to be of no use as croppers under field culture. A list of them is not given, but horti culturists will recognise among the sorts named above many which they know to be excellent as garden varieties, and therefore have the double qualification. Such work as this, being carried out by an authority so independent of all private interest in respective varieties of Potato and manure mixtures, is worthy of great encourage.

ment.

I was informed that the secretary of the college or Mr. Bruce, whose addresses are 13, George Square, Edinburgh, will gladly send a copy of the full report when it is publishedabout Christmas-to anyone interested. Wm. Cuthbertson.

ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS.

HEXISIA BIDENTATA.

AN inflorescence of this rare and pretty scarletflowered Orchid is kindly sent by Mr. F. W. Moore, Royal Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin, who has succeeded in establishing a rather weak specimen imported from Nicaragua in 1905. The plant bears jointed, slender pseudobulbs, the newer growths furnished with rather stiff linear, oblong leaves, and bearing short racemes of pale-scarlet flowers, with linear sepals and slightly shorter, ovate, acuminate lip, bearing at the base a chrome-yellow callus. The plant thrives best in an intermediate, or Cattleya house, in a shallow, teak-wood basket, or suspending Orchid pan.

EPIDENDRUM LAUCHEANUM. THIS very attractive Epidendrum produces its flowers after the manner of the Platyclinis, it producing a thin, wiry, ascending stem 8 inches or so in height, and furnished with a drooping, many-flowered raceme about 10 inches long. The flowers are half-an-inch across; the sepals and petals are of a coppery orange shade, and the lip light yellow. The pedicel and the reverse side of the flower are tinged with purple. A fine inflorescence of this rare species is sent by Mr. F. W. Moore, Curator of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Dublin. J. O'B.

THE ROSARY.

ROSE PENELOPE.

IN the Journal of Horticulture of Australia of April 1, 1907, this new Tea Rose, which origi nated from seed with Mr. John Williams, Broadwater Nurseries, Mount Gravett, Brisbane, is highly commended. It is described as being being carried singly on long stalks and furnished very free and constant in flowering, each bloom with prominent guard leaves. The bloom has good substance, is conical in shape, and solid. The base is of the colour of Francis Dubreuildeep crimson--the centre cream coloured. The tints are a distinct break from any other Rose in commerce. The variety will be offered for sale this season. F. M.

VEGETABLES.

SCARLET EMPEROR RUNNER BEAN. THIS Runner Bean is succeeding remarkably well this season. It bears most profusely, and the Beans are of good colour and flavour when cooked. It appears to be the best Runner Bean procurable. W. A. Cook, Leonardslee Gardens, Sussex.

PEA GOLDFINDER.

THIS is a first-class variety of culinary Pea, and plants of the true stock are difficult to excel for sturdiness of growth, freedom of cropping, excellence of flavour, and absolute immunity from mildew. It belongs to the marrowfat type, and each pod is filled with about eight Peas, which are equal in edible quality to those of Veitch's Perfection. As a second early variety Goldfinder is useful, and continues cropping for an equally long period as the Ne Plus Ultra. It reaches a height of about 6 feet, but in a wet season it is often 7 feet in height. E. M.

The Week's Work.

PLANTS UNDER GLASS.

By J. G. WESTON, Gardener to H. J. KING, Esq.,
Eastwell Park, Kent.

Humea elegans.-This graceful biennial being, as a rule, a favourite both for conservatory decoration and for use in the flower-garden, care should be taken to have a good stock of plants. If seeds were sown (as was advised in a previous Calendar) in the early part of the season, the plants should now be strong specimens in 6-inch pots. The roots being comparatively active all through the winter, the plants must not be allowed to become stunted or checked through remaining in a pot-hound condition. Therefore it will be necessary to repot them without delay into pots 8 inches or 9 inches in diameter. Use a potting compost consisting of good turfy loam three parts, leaf-soil one part, and manure from a spent mushroom-bed one part, adding sand and a 5-inch potful of soot to each barrow-load of the compost. Make the soil firm in potting, taking care not to bury the stem lower than it has been buried previously. Afford water with care during the winter, and keep the plants in a cool atmosphere; a suitable position at the present time being one in a frame having an ash-bottom, from which the frost can be excluded in severe weather. In such a place they will require very little attention until spring, when the plants, commencing to grow strongly, will require weak stimulants at regular intervals. To prevent Red Spider, employ the syringe freely during the growing season. Weak, clear sootwater is an excellent preventive. Vaporise the plants on the first appearance of green fly.

Hydrangeas.-Cuttings propagated in heat late in the summer, and potted on at once, will by now have become quite established, and should be kept in a cold frame during the winter, removing the lights on all favourable occasions. Where these are wanted in flower early in the season, it is a good plan to place a small batch into heat at intervals, a Vinery or Peach-house just started affording a very suitable place. These plants will form a succession which will last in bloom during the whole season, and be very acceptable for decorative purposes. Plants growing in small pots, and which are developing the flower-heads, will require manure-water at almost every alternate watering. They must at no time be allowed to suffer from want of water.

General work.-After the heavy rains experienced recently, the outside atmosphere has been much cooler, therefore it will be necessary to reduce the atmospheric moisture in all the planthouses. Do not keep the houses closed or the atmosphere "stuffy," but by thoughtful attention to outside conditions endeavour to keep the temperatures even, and prevent cold draughts. Though but little fire-heat is necessary to keep the heat of the houses as high as is required, it is a good plan to have a little warmth in the water pipes, and ventilate accordingly, thus dispelling superfluous moisture. The atmospheric

temperatures at night may for the present range between 48° to 55° in the Carnation and cool plant houses, 58° to 63° in the intermediate house, and from 65° to 70° in the stove, allowing a rise of from 5 to 10° in each structure by sun-heat during the day.

THE FLOWER GARDEN.

By A. C. BARTLETT, Gardener to Mrs. FORD, Pencarrow, Cornwall.

The rock garden.-Where the heavy rains have beaten down the surface soil, making it so hard as to partially exclude the light, it should be lightly stirred with a pointed stick or a hand Refork, taking care not to disturb any roots. move wind-blown leaves from the pockets. Many of the occupants of the Rockery are comparatively short-lived plants, and these species and varieties should be propagated, either by seeds or by cuttings, which latter may be rooted in pots to be wintered in frames. Any valuable or delicate plants about which there is any doubt as to whether they would safely pass through the winter, should be potted up and placed in a cold pit until next spring, when they may again be placed in the rock garden.

Tigridias.-The "Tiger Iris" is hardy in many warm, light soils, but in others it becomes necessary to lift the roots when the foliage has ripened, and store them for the winter in coconut fibre or dry sand. Some cultivators tie the roots by their stalks into small bunches, and suspend them in sheds for the winter, but under these conditions there is always a danger of them shrivelling. Tigridias seem to have lost favour of late years; perhaps on account of the evanescent nature of their flowers, which only last for one day, but good plants produce a wonderfu! succession of flowers, so that during the six weeks or so of their flowering season there is always plenty of blooms. Tigridia pavonia is the best known species; the variety Wheeleri has larger and brighter flowers; alba, flava, rosea, and grandiflora are other varieties sufficiently described by their names. T. canariense and T. speciosa are desirable species.

Arundo conspicua.-The plumes having now become of a shabby appearance, they should be removed. From June until a week or so ago the New Zealand Reed has shown marked superiority over the more common Pampas Grass, which has only just come into flower. Owing to this late flowering the plumes lose much of their attractiveness during wet weather, whereas the arched plumes of the Arundo are more loosely arranged and do not hold the water. In locali.ties where its hardiness is doubtful it will be well to give this and the Giant Reed (A. Donax) some protection for the winter.

Climbers. Such climbing plants as Clematis, Wistaria, Ivy, Ampelopsis, &c., may well be planted at this season. As they will probably remain in the same position for many years the preparations should be thorough. Make the drainage perfect, and provide good soil varying in richness according to the need of the different species. Amongst the more recent introductions, Vitis Henryana and Actinidia chinensis are desir. able plants. V. Henryana has prettily-marked leaves, and it requires a sunny position. Actinidia chinensis makes long, stout trailing growths, and very large, handsome leaves.

THE HARDY FRUIT GARDEN.
By J. MAYNE, Gardener to LORD CLINTON, Bicton,
East Devon.

Root pruning. This is a necessary operation in instances of trees making rampant growth in order to bring them into a fruitful condition, especially if such trees have been established for many years, and it is considered to be unsafe to transplant them. For younger trees the latter operation is decidedly better, such removal checking at once the exuberant growth which young trees frequently exhibit for a few years after being budded or grafted. In the operation of root-pruning, before taking out the necessary trench, be careful to see if the soil is in a moist condition, and if it is not, apply a good watering and wait for a few days. If this precaution be not taken, it will probably be found that most of the soil will crumble away in reaching the stronger roots, and this would

cause the tree to suffer a greater check than desired. Take out a trench 4 feet from the base of the trunk, and afterwards gradually work away the soil towards the stem with a garden fork quite down to the drainage, preserving all fibrous roots, and tracing to their origin all thong-like fibreless roots which cause the excessive wood growth. Search well under the ball of soil, as these "robbers" often penetrate straight down into the sub-soil, and cut well back all such roots, making an upward sloping cut, so that the new roots that will be formed may be encouraged to grow towards the surface. Return the same soil to the trench, making it quite firm about the roots, and lay out evenly all roots, with the points trending upwards. If it is considered to be necessary, a few inches of fresh soil may be put on the surface as an enShould couragement to keep the roots there. the weather remain dry for long afterwards, it may be necessary to afford water to the trees thus treated. Extra large trees should only have half their roots interfered with this autumn, and the remainder may be done next year.

Prospective planters. If convenient to the pur. chaser a visit should be made to a good nur sery where he may select the trees for himself. I append a brief list of the different varieties of fruits found to be satisfactory generally. Apples (dessert) Beauty of Bath, Mr. Gladstone, Irish Peach, Langley Pippin, James Greive, King Harry, Ribston Pippin, Cox's Orange Pippin, Cockle's Pippin, Sturmer Pippin, Warwickshire Pippin, Allington Pippin, King's Acre Pippin, Charles Ross, Blenheim Pippin, Christmas Pear. main, Adams' Pearmain, Claygate Pearmain, Hormead Pearmain, Rival, Old and Scarlet Nonpareil, The Houblon, and Duke of Devonshire. Culinary: Potts' Seedling, Ecklinville Seedling, Lord Grosvenor, Lord Suffield, Peasgood's Nonsuch, Warner's King, Lane's Prince Albert, Bramley's Seedling, Alfriston, Annie Elizabeth, King of Tompkins County, and Newton Wonder. Pears: Beurré Gifford, Fon

Bon Chrêtien, dante d'Automne, William's Louise Bonne of Jersey, Thompson's, Marie Louise, Beurré Bosc, Beurre Hardy; Beurre Superfin, Winter Nelis, Doyenné du Comice, Glou Morceau, Marie Benoist, and Olivier de Serres. Peaches: Amsden June, Hale's Early, Dymond, Royal George, Violette Hative, Prin cess of Wales, Goshawk, Late Devonian, Nectarine Peach, Gladstone, Sea Eagle, Barrington, and

Dr. Hogg. Nectarines: Elruge, Lord Napier, Early Rivers, and Humboldt. Apricots: Early Moorpark, Breda, Royal, Shipley's, Hemskirk, Moorpark and St. Ambroise. Plums (dessert): Old Greengage, Jefferson, Denniston's Superb, Coe's Golden Drop, Reine Claude de Bavay, and Late Orange. Culinary: Rivers' Early Prolific, Czar, Kirke's Victoria, Pond's Seedling, Magnum Bonum (white), and Monarch. Cherries (dessert): Frogmore Bigarreau, Napo. leon Bigarreau, Black Tartarian, Black Eagle, Early Rivers, Governor Wood, Elton, Noble, and Florence. Culinary: Kentish Red and Morello.

THE ORCHID HOUSES.

By W. H. WHITE, Orchid Grower to Sir TREVOR LAWRENCE, Bart., Burford, Surrey.

Cattleya labiata.-At the present time the autumn-flowering varieties of Cattleya labiata form one of the principal attractions in the Orchid houses, and if the atmosphere be kept a trifle drier than usual, the blooms will remain perfectly fresh for several weeks, a matter of considerable importance to those who grow the plants for obtaining flowers for cutting and for decorative purposes. When the plants have fin ished blooming, some of them will produce a quantity of young roots from the base of the flowering pseudo-bulbs, and at that stage the operation of repotting may be carried out if necessary. Following the flowering period, very careful watering will be necessary, whether the plants have been repotted or not, as the newly. made pseudo-bulbs (especially if they have not been sufficiently matured) are liable to decay if the roots are kept too moist.

Cattleya Bowringiana is another useful species which blooms at this season, and its richly. coloured flowers are most effective when seen by artificial light. This plant will require the same treatment as C. labiata

Cattleya gigas, C. Dowiana, C. D. aurea, C. Triana, and C. Mendeli.-Such species as these which have finished their growth should now receive just sufficient water to keep the pseudobulbs in a plump condition, and the leaves fresh, the object being to induce the plants to make fresh roots, but not any premature growth.

Cattleya Lawrenceana, being actively in growth, needs every encouragement. Elevate each plant well up to the roof glass, where it will be fully exposed to the light. This Cattleya needs copious supplies of water during the grow. ing season, but no plant should be watered until the compost has become quite dry, and care should be taken to prevent any water lodging in the young growths. After growth is completed, keep the potting material on the dry side, but when the flower-buds commence to develop in the sheath, more water may be afforded.

Vanda Kimballiana is now in flower, and the blooms will last in good condition a long time if the plants are kept in a dry, well-ventilated position in the Cattleya house. A similar position should be afforded to plants of the pretty white V. Watsonii, which are now producing their flower-spikes. This species has some resemblance in its habit of growth to V. Kimballiana, and when well cultivated both plants are very floriferous.

Ansellia africana, A. a. nilotica, and A. humilis.-A light, sunny position in the Cattleya house is suitable for such plants as these, which, having commenced to grow, may now be repotted if this operation is necessary, but otherwise the roots should not be disturbed, as the plants thrive equally well when kept in a pot-bound condition, provided the compost is sweet and the plant has sufficient room wherein to make its growths. Avoid over-potting, and use the best fibrous loam obtainable, mixing plenty of small crocks with it, also a little coarse silver sand. Make the material firm about the roots, and in the same manner as one would pot an ordinary greenhouse plant. While growing and rooting freely, these plants require copious waterings whenever the compost becomes dry.

Oncidium papilio and O. Krameri, now in bloom in the Cattleya house, always prove attractive to visitors. As is generally known, the flower-stems continue to produce a succession of flowers for a long period, and, if allowed to do this, the plants gradually become debilitated. In order to keep the plants in good health, it is advisable to remove the spike after it has produced two or three flowers.

FRUITS UNDER GLASS.

By ALEXANDER KIRK, Gardener to J. THOMSON PATON, Esq., Norwood, Alloa, Clackmannanshire.

If

Peaches and Nectarines.-Late crops of fruit now ripening will require fire-heat at this cold season of the year. It will be necessary also to maintain a good circulation of fresh air in the structure to induce the fruits to develop satisfactory colour, and the shoots of the trees to mature perfectly. Remove any leaves that would shade the fruit, and expose the latter fully to the sun's rays. Keep a sharp look-out for wasps, which are liable to cause damage in a short time if their presence is unobserved. If they are troublesome, paint the hotwater pipes with sulphur mixed in water. new borders are to be made up or fresh trees planted, October is the best month for doing such work. Lift and transplant at once young trees that have shown a tendency towards grossness of growth, for this is best done before the leaves drop from the trees. Before re-planting these gross-growing trees, they should be root-pruned. The compost for supplying the rooting-medium should consist of chopped turfy loam, with a liberal addition of lime-rubble and wood-ashes. To every five loads of this compost add 1 cwt. of a chemical vine manure (coarse grade). not in any case introduce farmyard manures, which would cause the trees to grow gross, and become liable to "gumming." New Peach borders should be made up in the same manner as I recommended for vines in the Calendar of last week. A border of a width of 3 or 4 feet inside is ample for a period of two or three years. Compost can be added to such borders as the roots extend. Peach and Nectarine trees, from which all the fruit was gathered early in the season, should be frequently syringed unti!

Do

the leaves fall, especially if they have been attacked by red spider. Admit plenty of air, and keep the atmosphere as cool as possible after it is found that the wood is well ripened. Until the wood is well ripened or matured, fire. heat must be used in conjunction with free ventilation. Thin out all shoots that will not be required for fruiting next year, especially the thickest shoots. Be careful not to allow Peach borders to become dry any time throughout the period of rest, as this is a frequent cause of bud-dropping in spring.

Strawberries. Plants in pots may be allowed to remain in their present position until the end of the present month if the weather is favourable, as they should now be well rooted, and at the end of the month should possess welldeveloped crowns. But in the case of continued heavy rains or severe frost, the plants must be removed to unheated pits or frames, or be afforded protection out-of-doors by placing glass lights over them. If frames are available, they may be placed in their winter quarters at once. If the plants cannot be protected from heavy rains, turn the pots on their sides, it being harmful to allow the roots to remain saturated with water. They may also, if desired, be stacked up on their sides, keeping the crowns outwards.

PUBLIC PARKS AND GARDENS.

By W. W. PETTIGREW, Superintendent of the Parks and Open Spaces in the City of Cardiff.

Turfing. The present being the best time of the year at which to lay turf, all bowling greens, tennis courts, or croquet grounds requiring renovation should be seen to without delay.

New bowling greens.-The formation of new bowling greens should also be proceeded with immediately, in order that the turf may be down in time to be well joined together by the beginning of May, when play 'usually commences. There are various methods of constructing bowling greens, the choice of which largely depends upon the sum of money available for the purpose, as the cost varies from about £80 to £300 per green. In some parks bowling greens are laid with a little more care only than is bestowed upon the formation of a good lawn. The main guiding levels only are gauged with a spirit level, the intermediate turves being merely beaten down to the main ones and tested with a straight-edge. A green of this description will no doubt satisfy beginners, but once a person becomes proficient at the game, he is not so easily satisfied, and requires a green as near perfection as possible, to obtain which a very different method of construction and turfing must be adopted.

The Glasgow bowling greens.-Glasgow undoubtedly possesses some of the best public bowling greens in Great Britain, and they are equal in every respect to the finest of private greens. They are, in the first place, formed upon the most approved principles, and afterwards maintained in the best possible manner. The Chief of the Glasgow Parks Department has very decided views upon this question, and rightly thinks that where the public pays directly for its amusement-as in the case of bowls, &c.-it is entitled to enjoy the sport under as favourable conditions as obtain in a private club. When visiting Glasgow a year ago I was so impressed with the appearance of these greens that Mr. Whitton very kindly supplied me with a plan and specification, from which we have constructed one of the best of our public greens in the city of Cardiff. Scotch greens measure 126 feet by 126 feet, with a 12-inch deep ditch on the four sides, and, unlike the Lancashire Crown greens, are perfectly level. The one great aim in forming these playing lawns is perfection of drainage. The whole area is therefore treated in such a manner as to enable water to pass quickly from it. In the ditch 4-inch land tiles are laid, into which 24-inch pipes--placed in rows at 9 feet apart-discharge any water that may fall on the surface or rise from the subsoil. The further construction as adopted is as follows:-When the site is levelled and drained it is covered to a depth of 4 inches with rough ballast, which is made quite stable by a heavy rolling. A layer of coarse ashes 31 inches in thickness is then placed over the ballast, and, after being consolidated by means of a roller, is, in turn, covered with 3 inches of fine ashes.

Be

After this third layer is thoroughly rolled, an inch of fine sand is added, upon which the turves, each 14 inch thick, are laid and beaten to the desired level. These turves, when cut, are 12 inches square and 2 inches in thickness. fore being laid they are placed, grass downwards, into a wooden mould, 12 inches by 12 inches by 1 inch deep, and well beaten with a wooden mallet, after which, by the aid of a scythe blade, the superfluous soil is cut away, leaving the turf exactly 1 inch thick. This process is adopted so as to ensure every turf being solid and of an uniform thickness-attributes they could not possibly possess if cut and laid in an ordinary manner. The turfing is done diagonally across the green, and each turf is tested with the spirit level and beaten down to the correct position as the laying proceeds. It will be noticed that no soil other than that in the turf itself is used, hence, while the grass cannot grow luxuriantly, it needs careful attention to prevent it from being injured from a want of moisture.

Selection of turf.-Although the proper construction of a green is a most vital point in determining its success, the kind of turf used is equally important. However well drained, or however well supplied with conveniences for watering, a green may prove a failure if the turf used is not suitable. Good mountain or seaside turf, composed of fine grasses, growing in a light, sandy soil, is generally regarded as the best for this purpose.

THE KITCHEN GARDEN.

By WILLIAM H. HONESS, Gardener to C. COMBE, Esq., Cobham Park, Surrey.

Cauliflowers.-Continue to prick out young seedlings obtained from successional sowings. The earliest plants should be large enough for planting into their winter quarters by the end of the present month or early in November. The ground for these should be thoroughly and deeply worked, for Cauliflowers require rich ground and the best cultivation. The labour expended in this way will be well and surely repaid next spring in the superior produce

obtained.

Early Potatos.-Tubers that have been treated according to previous directions will now be making satisfactory progress. Further plantings of tubers that are well rooted and have started into growth, in boxes, should now be made either in pots or in frames, the latter for preference if frames are available that can be heated. Another selection of tubers should now be put into boxes containing leaf-soil, that they may also be started into root action and growth, so that as more frames become vacant, another even "plant may be carried out.

Late Peas. The present season has been a most favourable one for late Peas, but by the present date the supply will, in nearly all cases, be finished, and the haulm should therefore be cleared off the ground. Where it is customary to sow Peas in the autumn for early spring supply, the seeds should in all cases be sown during the next fortnight, choosing a warm, sheltered position, and where a little protection can be given during the most severe weather. Regarding varieties, it will be best to choose the dwarf-growing sorts, such as Little Marvel, Green Gem, &c. Such varieties, if sown now out-of-doors, may be expected to come into use before those which are sown in pots in the New Year. The latter will afterwards be planted out in the open as soon as the weather will permit, and the crop so raised will follow soon afterwards, and thus form a very valuable succession. Seakale.-Examine the beds of Seakale; remove all the leaves which are showing signs of decay. This done, the crowns will be the better exposed to the influences of the weather and early frosts, which will serve to ripen the crowns and bring them in such a condition that they will quickly s.art into growth presently, after they have been removed into a heated atmosphere.

Turnips. The roots, which are already of a serviceable size, may now be lifted and stored, for they will thus keep in better condition than if they were left longer in the ground at this season. The latest Turnips will still be making growth, and should be left in the ground for some time to come.