1873. J DllAC.EXA WEISMANNI. 201 



disappointed if tliey look for it from trees grown in pots. If it is necessary to 

 liavo variety, plant the trees out in soil made firm like a floor. Tliey can then 

 be kept as dwarf as in pots, and require less than one-fourth of the attention 

 usually required by the same number of trees grown in pots. They are not so 

 liable to drop their fruits at stoning time, and the saving of pots is no mean item 

 off the expenditure. Trained trees will always be in favour, and if variety is 

 really necessary, it can be had from single, double, or triple cordons — a system 

 which is neat and productive. 



The " Truck " system will not, I am inclined to think, become popular, even 

 with those who are in favour of Orchard-houses in the ordinary sense. The 

 theory of this system appears, at first thought, advanced and sound, but I fail, 

 from practical experience, to see any advantage that is to be gained by it. 

 The first expense, indeed, is considerable ; while from the pots hanging in the 

 air, the labour is greater than is necessary when the pots stand on the 

 ground. The space outside, left for the rails to run on, is objectionable in 

 places where space is limited, as with amateurs generally. The taking of the 

 plants out to be cleaned, &c., is not necessary, as that work is reserved for 

 wet weather. To run the trucks out in order that they may have the falling 

 rain, requires the efforts of two men, and I have more than once seen 

 these poor fellows get a better soaking than the trees — at least those that 

 were drawn out last, the rain being sometimes off before they are all out ; 

 while if they are left out for some time to atmospheric influences, a coating 

 of mildew may be seen on the peaches and nectarines, especially if they have 

 stood a night in the open air. Such has been my experience on tvro occasions, 

 and a syringing with water in which a quantity of sulphur was mixed had to be 

 administei'ed, and was effectual in destroying the pest. Another evil which we 

 have observed is, that when the roots grow through the pots into the cold iron 

 basins, the trees suffer, if they do not ultimately die. 



It will be observed that while I am not in favour of Orchard-houses in the 

 usual sense of the word, I do not say that good fruit cannot be grown in them 

 plentiful and of good quality, but not better than from trees planted out, trained 

 or otherwise, and I admit that if I were an amateur with plenty of means and 

 time to spare, and expense was no object, an Orchard-house would be with me a 

 special object. — M. T. 



DEACiENA WEISMANNI. 



fJHIS variety is one of a set of marked novelties of recent introduction, in 

 J) which, besides the red variegation, so familiar in D. terminalis^ and its 

 V^ many forms, there is superadded a series of creamy-white streaks and 

 ^^ markings, which in combination with the red produce a very pleasing- 

 effect. Messrs. Veitch and Sons, by whom this variety was introduced, describe it 

 as "■ a very distinct and elegant Draccena^ with gracefully drooping leaves of a Hght 

 bronzy-red colour, with red margins, the colour in the younger leaves breaking 



