1S89. j ON THE CULTIVATION OF OSMUNDAS. 201 



eye, or sometimes slightly tinted with. pink. It was gathered by Messrs. Back- 

 house's collector, " on the dolomites of the Central Tyrolese Alps, and grows 

 freely on well-drained but rather humid rockwork, rooting deeply into fissures 

 and crevices, and preferring rather sunny situations." All such choice Alpine 

 plants need a pure atmosphere. M. 



THE WHITE CALVILLE APPLE. 



AM sorry to have ruffled the temper of "0. B. S. " by the few remarks I 

 made on this Apple in the Florist and Pomologist (p. 106). On referring 

 to my short article again, I really can see nothing in it which should be par- 

 ticularly galling to '•' 0. B. S.," or which conflicts with his opinions about the 

 merits or demerits of this fruit. I have grown the White Calville Apple for 

 more than twenty years, both on the walls and on borders, and on all the common 

 stocks, so that my acquaintance with it is not so recent as " 0. B. S." supposes. 

 Last year I had a lot of it imported from France on the French Paradise stock, 

 as cordons, and pot plants. I have, therefore, some grounds for giving it a good 

 character, as these little bushes bore well, and I had good specimens of it for the 

 dessert in April and May. 



As I never advance any strong opinions about this or any other kind of fruit 

 without putting them to the test of submitting them to experienced judges, I 

 offer to show six specimens of this Apple at one of the Horticultural Society's 

 fruit committee meetings in April or May next year, and challenge " 0. B. S." to 

 produce six of any of his favourite late apples, for the committee to compare with 

 them as to soundness and flavour. Perhaps " 0. B. S." may think this throwing- 

 down of the glove another " singularly ridiculous evidence of the times," but it is 

 my custom to do so in all cases of disputed opinion in fruit cultivation. Surely 

 " 0. B. S.," from his '"tight little island" of Jersey, with its favourable soil and 

 temperature, will be enabled to show something in the Apple line, able to compete 

 with my White Calvilles, grown in a midland district in England. Another con- 

 dition would be highly prized by me, namely, that he should give his name and 

 address, for I am certain we should soon be good friends, as all Pomologists 

 should be, and must be, when in search after truth in fruit-growing. 



Welbecl: William Tilleby. 



ON THE CULTIVATION OF OSMUNDAS. 



i RITISH Ferns in the open air, that is, in the hardy fernery, have long 

 been favourites, and many persons have devoted a spare corner and some 

 attention to their cultivation, though in most instances it has been with 

 but moderate success. Lastreas, Polystichums, Athyriums, and some 

 others are generally managed tolerably well ; but the same cannot be said of other 

 genera, several of which will not grow satisfactorily without special treatment. My 

 object is to give an account of the plan I have adopted in cultivating the Osmundas 



