252 THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. [November, 



tliey should assume in some measure the form of a basin — the centre being kept 

 well open ; by which means very fine fruit may be gathered from the inside as 

 well as outside branches. Where there is plenty of room this is decidedly one of 

 the best forms in which to train dwarf trees. The Pyramids, however, take less 

 surface room, and as they develop upwards as well as outwardly there can be a 

 greater weight of fruit taken from them on a given space. In pruning Pyramids 

 in winter, one of the principal points to be observed is to see that the tree is as 

 far as possible equally balanced on all sides, so as to furnish a handsome specimen. 

 The amateur, therefore, may sometimes find it useful to retain a portion of the 

 late growth to fill up unsightly gaps ; but it is a matter of choice, because, as 

 a rule, all immature growths should at the winter pruning be cut back to the 

 solid fruit-bearing wood. The only exception is that named above, where symmetry 

 of form takes precedence of utility in productiveness. 



The summer pinching of Espaliers and Cordons, though not varying in 

 principle from the foregoing, does so slightly in application. The Espaliers, being 

 confined to a certain number of shoots diverging horizontally from the centre 

 stem, and increasing only by the separate elongation of each shoot, are prohibited 

 from developing side branches like Pyramids or Bushes. The object, therefore, 

 to be kept in view is to induce as much as possible the formation of fruit-bearing 

 spurs as near to the main shoot as possible along its whole length ; and this, in 

 connection with root-pruning, must be attained by closer and more frequent 

 stopping in summer, and a closer cutting-in at the winter pruning. — John Cox, 

 Redleaf. 



CHOICE NEW CARNATIONS. 



plj (rj^OE many years past new varieties of the Carnation have been exceedingly rare, 

 (ISir very few having been distributed. Last year I had the pleasure of intro- 

 K^l ducing to the readers of the Florist a list of the finest lot of new Picotees 

 '^ ever offered, all of which have proved themselves, during the last season, 

 quite equal to what they were represented to be. Among the Carnations of which I 

 now purpose giving a list, will be found some grand acquisitions, particularly among 

 the Scarlet Bizarres. Their merits have been all well tested, and they have been 

 very successfully exhibited, most of them having received certificates. Several 

 of them were raised by that veteran and enthusiastic florist Mr. Hextall, of Ashby 

 de la Zouch, to whom it must have been a source of great gratification to have 

 been so fortunate as to raise such remarkable novelties among his special favourite 

 flowers. 



Ajax {Hextall), Purple Flake. — A fine large full flower, smooth and well 

 marked with very bright purple, quite distinct, and of good robust habit. It 

 was awarded a Certificate of Merit at Leicester ; extra fine. 



Campanini (Turner), Scarlet Bizarre. — A large fine flower, with good smooth 

 petals ; colours very bright, and beautifully marked. It was awarded a First- 

 class Certificate at the Eoyal Horticultural Society ; extra fine. 



