366 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ November 13, 1908. 



a layer of stones below and above two three-inch pipes, 

 heated from a separate source to that which heats the house. 

 The length of the house is 294 feet. Now, to do the best with 

 this border, it must not be applied to too many purposes. It 

 will make a first-rate propagating-bed or pit, supplied with 

 sashes. It will also do well for growing fruit or flowers, but 

 not answer two purposes well at the same time. You pro- 

 pose planting in this border, in good soil, six standard May 

 Duke Cherries, and between these a Lemon, a Lirno, a Citron, 

 a Shaddock, and an Orange, which could grow to a height of 

 6 feet, whilst the Cherries could cover the other 8 feet 8 inches 

 of the wall. Now, the Cherries could only be expected to 

 succeed in a late vinery, or if in an early one, the fruit must be 

 swelling nicely by the time the Grapes were showing their 

 shocts, as nothing could be made of the Cherries without 

 plenty of ventilation and a low temperature at first. Besides, 

 bottom heat would be injurious to the Cherries, though it 

 would be beneficial to the Oranges, Limes, &c. No better- 

 border or contrivance could be had for the latter, which would 

 thus cover the back wall. The border would also answer well 

 for Camellias, and when the wall was furnished it would 

 always be a grand show in the winter and spring months. 

 Shade and extra heat when the Vines were growing would just 

 be suitable for the Camellias. With such a wall covered 

 with Camellias, Oranges, Lemons, &c, there need be none of 

 these in the centre of the house, except small plants. If, how- 

 ever, the wall were thus planted, we do not think you could 

 do much with the side of the raised border in the way of pro- 

 pagating. The soil might be covered with small Ferns and 

 Mosses. If you determine on making that border suit growing 

 flowering plants, and also serve for propagating, you had better 

 shut off so many spaces for the plants, as Camellias and 

 Oranges, and have other spaces with nothing but stones and 

 sand above the pipes, and then a glass over these spaces for 

 propagating-purposes. We would prefer having it all devoted 

 to one purpose, and for display, rich scent, and for fine colours, 

 nothing would beat Camellias and Oranges. 



Keane's " In-door Gardening " will suit you. You can have 

 it free by post from our office if you enclose twenty stamps 

 with your direction.] 



COXIFERE. 



I have read with much interest in your columns accounts of 

 exotic trees at Linton Park, and elsewhere, by Mr. Robson and 

 Mr. Kent, who are deserving of thanks for the valuable in- 

 formation thus given. To satisfy the curiously exact, they 

 have expressed with sufficient minuteness the size, the age, 

 and progress of growth of each species, and distinguished the 

 kinds which do and do not succeed well. Now, as they find 

 (I allude more particularly to Mr. Robson's descriptions), that 

 some of the species — for instance, Abies Douglasii at Linton 

 Park — do not thrive well at one place, and yet succeed admirably 

 in other localities, it would be very desirable if some of those 

 gentlemen would complete their descriptions by explaining 

 the positions — high or low, the nature of the soil — wet or dry, 

 shelter or exposure, and the general treatment of the trees in 

 question. 



Many of the larger Conifers prefer a northerly or north-west 

 aspect — most of them high ground ; but although they are found 

 in positions thousands of feet above the sea level, we must not 

 suppose they are all equally well adapted for being planted in 

 high and exposed places in this country. Abies Douglasii, 

 Wellingtonia, and several of the Piceas naturally grow in high 

 positions, but at the same time they come to the greatest per- 

 fection in the mountain valleys on the banks of rivers in deep 

 alluvial soils. Someof the long-leaved Pines — Lambertiana, for 

 example — are found in greatest vigour and size growing in 

 almost pure sand. 



My experience is that few of these trees can be cultivated 

 successfully unless they have sufficient moisture, and at the 

 same time the soil in which they are planted so drained, either 

 by nature or by art, that no stagnant water can affect them. 

 If Abies Douglasii succeeds well in one spot and not in another, 

 the reason surely must be looked for in its position, soil, ex- 

 posure, or treatment. It would be an additional desideratum 

 supplied if we could be thoroughly made to understand the 

 nature of the soil, its humidity, the position, shelter, or ex- 

 posure, and manner of treatment those trees have enjoyed 

 which thus fail to realise expectation. — Utinam Mihi Dicas. 



[Our correspondent, who resides at Brighton, has some ex- 



perience in the culture of Conifer*. In a private letter to us 

 he says — 



" I have upwards of seventy different species of Conifers, 

 and I am interested in them. Mine are mostly very young, 

 but if they do as well for a few years as they have done hitherto 

 I shall have some fine specimens. I have an Aiaucaria im- 

 bricata which has grown 17 inches every year for the last five 

 years, and there is not a brown leaf on any part of it. I have 

 a Pinus Gordoniana which has grown this year 17 inches — se- 

 cond year planted — the shoot is nearly 1 inch in diameter, and 

 the leaves 13 inches long, some more. I have an Abies 

 Douglasii which has grown in an open space 2 feet 9 inches this 

 summer."] 



ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



NpVESIBEE GlBC. 



Floeal Committee. — Messrs. Veitch exhibited at this meeting 

 Dendrobium bigibbum, a pale lilac flower, with curious circular side 

 petals, giving it almost the form of a Pea ; there were only two or 

 three flowers open, but when seen in better condition it will prove 

 worthy of some distinction. Mr. Bull sent a small collection of 

 plants, including several pots of the sweet-scented parasite Cnscuta 

 -. growing on Ivy. The white bell flowers are nearly the size of 

 the Lily of the Valley, and give the plant a very pretty appearance. 

 A special certificate was awarded the collection. A collection of 

 Orchids from the Society's Gardens, South Kensington, including a 

 tine specimen of Odontoglossum grande, was awarded a special certi- 

 ficate. Messrs. E. G. Henderson sent several plants of Poa trivialis 

 argentea elegans, nicely arranged and bordered with a Selaginella. 

 This Grass was previously awarded a first-class certificate under the 

 name of Cynosurus cristatus foliis variegatis, which proved to be in- 

 correct ; it was shown on this occasion rightly named. Robert 

 Warner, Esq., sent a cut flower of a Lycasto of the flava section, 

 and James Bateman, Esq., cut flowers of Clematis Jaekmanni, the 

 plants having been in bloom for three months, and notwithstand- 

 ing the late frost, still producing perfect and well-coloured flowers. 

 From Mr. Shortt, gardener to Viscount Eversley, Heckfield, came cat 

 specimens of Ruscus aculeatus with yellow berries. It is necessary 

 that the history of this plant should be known before any decision as 

 to its merite can be arrived at. The berries are slightly spotted with 

 scarlet, whieli would seem to decide that it was a sport from R. acu- 

 leatus. It will be useful as a variety for rockwork decoration. Mr. 

 Forsyth, gardener to Baron Rothschild, exhibited a very fine specimen 

 of Antlimiiiin Seherzerianuin with six brilliant scapes in full perfec- 

 tion. A special certificate was awarded for good cultivation. Messrs. 

 f,t e, Hammersmith, brought cut specimens of Schizostylis coccinea. 

 These brilliant crimson spikes were cut from plants growing in the 

 borders out of doors. In form the flowers resemble, to the general 

 observer, those of the Ixia, but arc botanically very different. It is a 

 very useful plant for this time of the year. A special certificate was 

 awarded the specimens sent : a first-class certificate was given by a 

 Sub-Committee of the Floral Committee two years ago, but appears 

 not to have been entered among the awards in that season. A collection 

 of Pelargoniums, Primulas. Ac, came from the Cbiswick gardens ; also 

 a. very interesting collection of berries, oVc, consisting of Cotoneasters, 

 Craticgi, Snowberry, Crabs, and similar fruit. These were much 

 admired, and deserve attention from all gardeners : their varied and 

 brilliant colours in the absence of foliage from deciduous shrubs 

 make them very useful and highly ornamental. 



Fruit Committee. — Mr. Forsyth, gardener to Paron L. De Roths- 

 child, Gnunersbury Park, exhibited three magnificent Pines, hand- 

 some in form and beautifully ripened — viz., two Smooth-leaved 

 Cayennes, each weighing 7 lbs., and one fruit of Charlotte Rothschild 

 9 lbs. in weight. Mr. Forfiyth received a special certificate for the 

 latter, and a like award was made for the two Cayennes. A dish of 

 English Pomegranates came from Mr. Downing, gardener to T. 

 Gri sell, Esq.. Xiabury Park, Dorking; and of Mangoes from Mr. 

 Taplin, gardener to the Duke of Devonshire, Chatsworth. In shape 

 the fruit were very like the Red Powis Mango, figured in the sixth 

 volume of the Society's " Transactions," from fruit ripened hi Earl 

 Powis's gar-den at Walcot Hall, Shropshire, in September 1826, but 

 instead of exhibiting a rich crimson cheek, the skin was of a doll 

 yellowish olive colour. Mr. Melville, gardener to the Earl of Rose- 

 berry, Dalmeny Park, sent fruit of Champion Frontignan Grape, but 

 the Committee" considered it very similar to and inferior in flavour to 

 Muscat Champion, a valuable variety previously raised by him. 

 Grapes also came from the Rev. George Kemp, Sion College, London 

 Wall, and consisted of good bunches of Royal Muscadine, grown on 

 the slate roof of an outhouse. Of Apples, Earlswood Pippin, a seed- 

 ling raised by Mr. Constable, the gardener at the Earlswood Asylum, 

 was shown, but though of fair flavour, was not considered to possess 

 any particular value ; and from Mr. Downing, Norbnry Park, there 

 came a collection of twelve kinds, among which were fine fruit of 

 Gloria Mnndi, Dumelow's Seedliug, Blenheim Pippin, Warner's King, 

 an excellent kitchen Apple, and Alfristou, as well as Barcelona Pear- 

 main, Braddick's Nonpareil, and other dessert kinds. A special cer- 

 tificate was awarded for the collection. Of Peais, Mr. Cox, gardener 



