Memoirs of the Caledonian Horticultural Society. 61 



reproduction of fruit branches is greatly impeded. Shoots 

 preserved merely for fruit, or perhaps for no purpose at all, 

 are allowed to grow on till they have attained the length of 

 several feet ; and as they frequently run parallel, within a few 

 inches of each other, they are entirely naked, except perhaps 

 at the points where there may be two or three twigs, often 

 too feeble to perfect the fruit which they produce. In such 

 cases, the blossoms can neither be vigorous or abundant. 



" It is not intended to recommend the whole of any one of 

 the French methods above described ; but I am persuaded that 

 some benefit may be reaped from their consideration, in the 

 way of practice, and perhaps still more in acquiring clearer 

 notions of what peach training ought to be." 



Of all the various modes of pruning and training the peach 

 which we have seen described in books, none appears to us so 

 truly perfect in theory as that of Mr. Seymour ; but we have 

 never had an opportunity of seeing it put in practice on an exten- 

 sive scale, and have conversed but with few gardeners who have 

 seen Mr. Seymour's trees. The beauty of the Seymour sys- 

 tem is its determinate form ; there being a distinct reason why 

 every side shoot, and every lateral on these shoots should be 

 precisely where it is, and nowhere else, and this reason is of 

 that practical kind, that it may always be determined by ad- 

 measurement. There may, however, be difficulties attending 

 Mr. Seymour's system, of which we are not aware, and there- 

 fore we would much rather hear the opinions and experience 

 of our readers on the subject, than give our own. A tree or 

 two are in the course of training in this way in the Horticultural 

 Society's garden, which may be inspected with advantage by 

 those who will take the trouble of examining; the merits of the 

 system. 



3. On the Cultivation of certain Ornamental Plants in Flotver-pots 

 Jilled ivith Hypnum Mosses. By Mr. John Street, C.M.H.S. 

 Flower-Gardener at Biel. 



A similar communication to that sent to the Horticultural 

 Society of London, some account of which has already been 

 given. [Gard. Mag. vol. ii. p. 419.) Moss, Mr. Street thinks, 

 " possesses, a power, to some extent, of regulating temperature 

 more than most kinds of earth ; that is, it resists extreme heat 

 and extreme cold, and is not apt to lose all moisture suddenly, 

 while it discharges superfluity of moisture. It does not act 

 like some rich earths, giving out all its virtues at first, but be- 

 comes gradually richer in decay, when a fresh supply may be 

 added in the same space of pot room." Mr. Street finds that 



