1870.] HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 83 



tration of the cultivation of the Plum in this manner from what has been and 

 is still being done with the Plum as a pyramid at the Gardens of the Pioyal 

 Horticultural Society at Chiswick. 



When there a few days ago, Mr A. F. Barron, the able superintendent at Chis- 

 wick, showed me a long border of pyramid Plum-trees, about two hundred in 

 numbei', and comprising a full collection of the various sorts in cultivation. These 

 trees have been planted about ten years, and average some 7 feet in height. In 

 forming these trees into pyramids, such a number of sorts would be sure to betray 

 marked diversities of growth ; and while some could be trained to the pyramid 

 form more readily than others, there was not a single one of the many varieties 

 under cultivation incapable of being so trained. Some make but a spare bushy 

 growth, others throw out clusters of fruiting-spurs that were now densely covered 

 with blooming buds. Mr Barron is of opinion that the Plum can be cultivated 

 in the form of a pyramid as well as any other fruit. What is mainly required is 

 great perseverance on the part of the cultivator in the summer-pinching of the 

 shoots, so as to insure the production of fruit as opposed to a rampant growth 

 of mere wood. 



It has been stated that Mr Rivers of Sawbridgeworth plants out pyramid Plums 

 by the thousand, the plants being about 3 feet apart; and some good fruit-cul- 

 tivators are of opinion that if pyramid Plums about 4 to 5 feet in height were 

 planted out in rows, some 3 feet apart, and 2 feet from each other in the row, 

 it would be an excellent method of growing Plums, and well repay the outlay 

 incurred. Observer. 



3^S»~^SNL« — ■ 



HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 



The meetings of the Eoyal Horticultural Society are practically exhibitions, as 

 they always produce something worth looking at. The December meeting, though 

 held only four days before Christmas, and with the shadows of the coming hard 

 wintry weather thrown over it, yet had its quota of interesting objects. A large 

 group of garden Ivies, exhibited by Messrs E. G. Henderson & Son, in groups of 

 three plants in pots of each kind, was thoroughly well examined, though many of 

 the plants were in bad condition. There is such a perennial never-failing value about 

 these plants that they scarcely ever look dull or cease to do effective service. For 

 covering low dead walls, the exteriors of glass structures, and in many other ways, 

 they can be turned to such excellent account that we cannot wonder at their grow- 

 ing popularity. Messrs Henderson's collection included some supposed newly-im- 

 ported species, the value of which will have to be determined when they become 

 more developed. A very nice group of winter-blooming Orchids, exhibited by 

 Messrs Veitch & Sons, went far to show their value for house-decoration at this 

 season of the year. They included Masdevallia Veitchii, with one very fine 

 flower ; Yanda insignis, very handsome ; Oncidium Phalamopsis, prettily flow- 

 ered and very charming ; and a few others quite as beautiful. At the nurseries 

 of Mr William Bull, at Chelsea, can now be seen in bloom, in an intermediate 

 house, a very interesting collection of winter-blooming Orchids, of which we shall 

 give some account very shortly. Of winter-blooming flowers what can compare 

 with the Cyclamen Persicum ? At this meeting two groups of plants were fur- 

 nished, one by Mr Edmunds of Hayes, the other by Mr Welch, Parkfield House, 

 Hillingdon ; and those best acquainted with the Cyclamen, and the high state of 



