December 11, 1866. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURB AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



430 



WEEKLY CALENDAR. 



FRUIT-BEARING PLANTS FOR DINNER-TABLE 

 DECORATION. 



O a veiy common plant, which 

 by good management ma}' 

 be converted into an orna- 

 ment for the dinner-table, 

 Mr. Perkins directed atten- 

 tion about a month ago, and 

 he deserves our best thanks for the information which he 

 lias afforded on the subject, for the demand for plants 

 suitable for the purpose is so great at the present day that 

 we have to press into our service all which can be rendered 

 available. If, however. Mr. Perkins can make such an 

 unpromising plant as the Pyracantha (Crataegus pyra- 

 cantha), a lit and proper object for such close inspection as 

 that which it must undergo at the dinner-table, we may 

 r, duly obtain the assistance of many other plants gene- 

 rally grown ; and. since reading Mr. Perkins's letter, I 

 have asked myself whether other berry-bearing shrubs 

 common amongst us cannot be rendered available. Last 

 winter, we all know, the advertising pages of gardening 

 periodicals set forth the merits of the Aucuba as a plant 

 for dinner-table decoration, and some examples of it which 

 were exhibited proved its value for the purpose ; but, com- 

 mon as the Aucuba is amongst us, the means of having it 

 in fruit are not yet within the reach of all. so that we must 

 look elsewhere for plants which can be obtained in abun- 

 dance, and amongst such let us see what are likely to be 

 available. I regret that at tliis place some common plants 

 not been thought of sooner, but the names of a few 

 thai appear likely to be worked into use will be given 

 t1 the end of this communication; and if correspondents 

 who may have employed them will report then- success, 

 or can suggest others for trial, the information would be 

 valuable. 



I will now give a list of the fruit-bearing plants whieh 

 are in use here, although I confess it is but a meagre 

 one. 



Pernettya mucronata. — Unfortunately tliis plant does 

 not thrive very well with us in a mass, and I have never 

 seen it in the same healthy condition as other hardy shrubs. 

 Its berries, rich enough in appearance by daylight, are not 

 so effective at night, otherwise the dwarf habit of the plant, 

 its profusion of foliage, and its usually free production of 

 fruit, would render it a general favourite. For some years, 

 however, we have abandoned it, because we have not the 

 means of growing it out of doors so well as it ought to be, 

 and there it produces fruit best. 



Skimmia japonica has only one fault — it is often rather 



naked of foliage in the centre, otherwise its free bearing 



and the beautiful coral-like colour of its clusters of fruit, 



hanging, as they do, for months without change, entitle it 



No. 288.— Vol. XL, Kew Series. 



to the first place amongst dinner-table plants of the fruit- 

 bearing class. 



Orange Trees. — Like the preceding, the small-leaved 

 and small-fruited kinds are often scantily furnished with 

 foliage, but when in good order nothing can really be 

 handsome. 



Solanum cArsieAsiKiM and a taller species are both 

 good, and deservi attention everywhere, for they do good 

 service for many months without a chart 



Riyina himius requires stove heat, but its numerous 

 clusters of small red berries, with a continuous succession of 

 blossom foretelling after-crops, give the plant an interest- 

 ing appearance. It fruits more abundantly when of a I. i ■•_ i 

 and some plants of it growing against the back wall 

 of a stove are very rich in appearance. It is also a good 

 plant for the table. 



Capsicums. — Some of these are by no means to be de- 

 spised, and when loaded with ripe fruit look well. The 

 tall one with yellow fruit is best adapted for the plant 

 shelf, and it can seldom be had in such good condition as 

 the red-fruited kinds. 



Ardisia crendlata. — A well-known stove plant with 

 berries rivalling those of the Holly. It is too well known 

 and loo generally admired to require further mention here. 



We now come to hardy berry-bearing plants or shrubs, 

 which, though not often met with of the small size 

 suitable for the dinner-table, may nevertheless by skilful 

 management, like that which Mr. Perkins has brought to 

 bear on the Pyracantha, be made to do good service, as the 

 fruit they bear are ltighly ornamental, and in most cases 

 the foliage is so likewise. Dwarfing them to the condition 

 of potted plants will doubtless bring them to the shape 

 and size desired. 



Portugal LaureTi. — The beautiful strings of rich-coloured 

 berries would grace a table if the plant could he induced 

 to assume a dwarf condition, and bear fruit when of that 

 size. I may remark that this plant succeeds better in a 

 very stiff soil than in one of an opposite nature, although 

 good examples are met with in soils of the latter descrip- 

 tion. Its glossy leaves would also be an acquisition. 



Eugenia Ugni. — Rarely fruitful enough to be attractive, 

 and the colour of the fruit is n<o : , I . in some other 

 plants ; but when the fruit is ripe it has the merit of being 

 of the highest flavour, and the plant might, therefore, be 

 countenanced at table; its foliage as well as habit is 

 good, but very small plants seldom fruit abundantly enough 

 to meet the requirements of all eases. 



Arbutus. — Nothing looks richer than this when In 

 with fruit, and its clusters of bell-shaped flowers are also 

 attractive. I am sometimes half tempted to make use of 

 a nice upright-growing branch as a substitute for a plant, 

 but have resisted the temptation. It fruits best, on a stiff 

 soil, on a very light one its fruit is only indifferent . 



Cotoneaster. — Could not the best berry-bearing species 

 be enlisted into the household service'.' C. Siimnonsii. 

 which bears such beautiful berries in winter, loses much i f 

 its foliage then, and C. frigida is, I think, toi large in the 

 leaf. We must, therefore, resort to some of the microphylla 

 class. The rose-coloured berries look rich against a stone 



No. ?M>. -Vol. XXXVI.. Old Series. 



