THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



901 



cup-shaped, fragrant flower; N. tuberosa Richardsoni, 

 another large pure white extra large flower. 



For artificial ponds the following are to be recom- 

 mended: N. Paul Ilariot, a large flower, clear yellow 

 with red shadings at base of petals, a splendid variety; 

 N. Gloriosa, a very choice variety of a deep carmine-rose 

 color; N. James Brydon, a superb variety with rosy, 

 crimson flowers ; N. Marliacea Albida, flowers of spark- 

 ling whiteness; N. Mar Chromatella, beautiful canary 

 yellow, extra ; N. Mar rosea, one of the best pink hardy 

 water lilies; N. Odorata Sulphurea Grandiflora, another 

 fine yellow variety, the flowers standing above the water ; 

 N. Vesuve flowers, an amaranth rose, one of the best 

 dark-colored hardy Nymphaeas ; N. Robinsoni, color 

 orange red, a distinct and beaut ful flower. 



To these must be added the tender day flowering varie- 

 ties No. Gracilis, white; N. Mrs. C. Ward, the best pink, 

 tender variety; N. Pennsylvania, very choice blue; N. 

 Zanzibariensis, violet purple, the darkest of all; N. George 

 V. Nash, soft violet blue, a viviporous variety, ever 

 blooming, can be planted outdoors in summer and taken 

 into the greenhouse for winter flowering. 



Amongst the night bloomers are N. Bisseti, deep rose- 

 pink ; N. dentata superba, a very large white flower; N. 

 Deaniana, a beautiful pink flower; N. Devoniensis, bright 

 rosy red, one of the best ; N. Frank Trelease, a rich, dark, 

 glowing crimson ; N. O'Marana, reddish pink, a very 

 desirable variety. 



Where space permits, by all means grow a Victoria 

 Trickeri — these plants will succeed where the tender 

 Nymphaeas do well. 



In addition to this list of Nymphaeas for the artificial 

 pond should be included clumps of Cyperus Papyrus, the 

 Egyptian paper plant, one of the best ornamental aquatic 

 grasses ; also Giant Sagittarias, Japanese calamus, etc. 

 There is improvement all along the line ; we can now have 

 .summer flowers in the depth of winter, and it is possible 

 for all who have a greenhouse and can maintain a winter 

 temperature of 60 to 65 degrees to have water lilies in 

 flower at Christmas and New Year. We have a strain 

 of jjerpetual flowering Nymphaeas, whose flowers last 

 much longer in winter, not infrequently six and seven 

 days. 



One great bugbear to water-lily culture has been the 

 mosquito pest ; but that no longer exists ; gold fish will 

 readily devour the mosquito larva in the water and at 

 the same time afford endless amusement for the younger 

 members of the household. 



WORK NO DULL DUTY. 



Do not look on your work as a dull duty. If you choose 

 you can make it interesting. Throw your heart into it. 

 master its meaning, trace out the causes and previous 

 history, consider it in all its bearings, think how many 

 even the humblest labor may benefit, and there is scarcely 

 one of our duties which we may not look to with enthu- 

 siasm. You will get to love your work, and if you do it 

 with delight you will do it with ease. Even if at first 

 you find this impossible, if for a time it seems mere 

 drudgery, this may be just what you require ; it may be 

 good like mountain air to brace up your character. — 

 Lord Avebury. 



A TEARFUL AFFAIR. 



The bride read the recipe over and said, 



"I'm really afraid that these onions are strong; 



And it says, 'Under water's the best way to peel them,' 

 But I never can stay under water that long." 



PEACHES AND NECTARINES UNDER GLASS. 



Bv J. W. Smith. 

 The first object aimed at in fruit growing should be tQ 

 build up a sound, vigorous structure, both wood and 

 roots, capable of producing regular crops of well-finishcJ 

 fruits. In the peach and nectarine we find a strong 

 tendency under liberal treatment to develop gross un- 

 fruitful growth. 



More than one method can be followed to counteract 

 this tendency in the young and vigorous trees. The 

 usual method is to plant in a compost on border without 

 the addition of manure. If the trees develop a too gross 

 growth, which the greater majority do, resort is then 

 made to root-pruning and the removal of the stronger 

 growths, an operation which in the writer's opinion is 

 the cause of numberless troubles in the after life of the 

 trees. The wound in the structure of root and branch 

 give the canker and gum germs an opportunity to get es- 

 stablished in the structure and tissues of the tree before 

 they heal properly, and there to lurk until the trees be- 

 gin to carry full crops of fruit, the development of which 

 reduces the power to resist them. One of the most dis- 

 couraging things to a fruit grower is to see a tree de- 

 velop canker and gum when fully grown, and should in 

 the proper order of things begin to pay for time and 

 labor expended on them. In the writer's opinion the 

 box or, rather, bottomless box, system has a great deal 

 to recommend it, especially where limited head room is 

 available, the usual conditions under glass. 



For first planting, a box resting on supports under 

 the trees, one extra large, is the best. A box about 2 feet 

 square will accommodate the roots of the average size 

 young tree. With a little encouragement the trees will 

 make all the growth necessary the first year, the amount 

 of feeding, if any be required, can be regulated by the 

 appearance of the tree, proving at this stage a large bulk 

 of soil is absolutely necessary. When the leaves are 

 about ready to fall, the trees can be given a little more 

 room. This time the box should be made bottomless 

 and resting on the drainage of the border ; the roots hav- 

 ing been confined to a small space will not have de- 

 veloped grassy tendencies. The ball of the tree, being 

 easily handled, can be shook free of soil and the roots 

 spread out when placed in the new box. The end of 

 the second year will produce a tree well stocked with 

 fruiting wood and ready to start bearing a limited crop 

 of fruit. At this stage the permanent border can be 

 filled in and a still larger bottomless box added. The 

 trees being in condition to carry a crop of fruit it makes 

 it possible to use a more liberal compost and place it 

 at the disposal of the trees when they require it for 

 developing a good crop of fruit without the danger of 

 producing rank unfruitful growth. 



From the financial standpoint the system has no great 

 drawback ; the small amount of soil required the first 

 two years balances the amount of lumber required. Soil 

 of a suitable nature being almost more difficult to obtain 

 in most estal)lishments than lumber. From a labor point 

 of view the box system has its greatest recommendation, 

 the ease with which the trees can be handled in the first 

 two or three years saving the difficult and laborious 

 operation of properly lifting and root pruning the trees 

 when planted into a large hulk of soil. Also, the average 

 fruit house border on account of its arrangement makes 

 it difficult to carry out this lifting operaticjn without 

 damaging the roots and being the means of raising a 

 good crop of root suckers, which are practically impos- 

 sible to get rid of wlien once established. 



