1S73. ] QUERCUS LAURIFOLIA. — INTERNATIONAL FRUIT SHOWS. 109 



bloom througliout the period above stated. When blooming is over, withhold 

 water for a few days, and then cut the plant back as above recommended ; water 

 sparingly until growth recommences ; re-pot as soon as the young shoots are an 

 inch or so in length, and treat in every respect as before directed. Cuttings 

 made from the tops which are cut off in pruning strike freely in bottom-heat, 

 and form useful plants for decorative purposes in one season. — H. Chilman, 

 Somerley. 



QUERCUS LAUEIFOLIA. 



WITH AN ILLUSTRATION. 



HE Laurel-leaved Oak, of which we now give an illustration, from twigs 

 taken from a fine specimen in the grounds of Mr. Webb, of Milford, 

 Surrey, is one of many neglected trees ; and we publish this note respect- 

 ing it, in the hope of inducing planters of ornamental trees to make 

 acquaintance with it. It belongs to the section Phellos^ or the Willow Oaks, and is 

 a native of South Carolina and Georgia, whence it was introduced in 178C. It 

 is a deciduous tree, growing 50 ft. high or upwards, and has elliptic obovate 

 entire leaves, 8 in. or 9 in. long, and which take on a bright rust-colour before 

 they fall in the autumn. The acorns, as will be seen from our figure, are not 

 matured tUl the second year, a fact to which our attention was called by Mr. 

 Young, of the Milford Nursery, to whom also we are indebted for the specimens. 

 As a handsome and distinct ornamental tree, this Oak deserves to be much better 

 known. The tree in Mr. Webb's ground is of large size and considerable age.— 

 T. Moore. 



WOEK FOR INTERNATIONAL FRUIT SHOWS. 



[S great International shows are now the order of the day, I think something 

 good and practical might be done in the way of giving us a better know- 

 ledge and insight into which are really the best varieties of our most popular 

 hardy fruits, and the districts for which they are most suitable. Let me take, 

 for instance, the Apple and Pear. What a cloud of doubt hangs over these ! We 

 know there are a few sorts that do well almost everywhere, but again there are 

 hundreds of sorts which we young gardeners and amateurs plant in a blindfold sort 

 of way, expecting all will come right, and then, after years of pruning and train- 

 ing we learn in too many cases that all is wrong ; and the trees have either to be 

 rooted out, or grafted with another sort. 



To remedy this defect I beg to suggest to those high in office in the Eoyal 

 Horticultural Society, and in the other great leading societies, that prizes should 

 be offered at, say a November show, for the best collections of Apples and Pears, 

 grown respectively in the Southern, the Midland, and the Northern counties, in 

 Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. This, I believe, would bring together a splendid, 

 as well as most instructive, exhibition of those fruits ; and one, too, that would draw 

 together a large number of horticulturists and pomologists who are deeply inter- 



