August 4, 1883.1 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



129 



has got about as to this point, which has lessened their 

 distribution in gardens. Here the plants do not suffer 

 in the winter at all, and rarely do the young shoots 

 get nipped by late spring frosts. For grouping by 

 themselves, or as " starers " amongst other shrubs 

 with nearly uniform tints of green, they are invalu- 

 able. They might be employed for garden hedges, 

 when, by cutting them twice within the summer 

 months, young shoots would be produced all over 

 the plants, the tender crimsons, yellows, pinks, and 

 whites of which would have a beautiful effect. 



Acer dasytilum, likewise of Japanese origin, is a 

 tree whose young 6hoots and leaves are red ; the 

 mature foliage is very handsome. Other forms of 

 Japan Maples observed were A. argutum and 

 A. macranthum, the foliage of both of which turns 

 to bright scarlet in the autumn. A. Reitenbachi is 

 a Norway Maple, whose young foliage has reddish 

 hues. Betula laciniata pendula is the perfection of 

 a solitary tree for a lawn or a conspicuous corner, as 

 is Salix laurifolia for the lake-side ; the foliage of 

 the latter is large and striking for a Willow. Ptelea 

 trifoliata is quite at home in similar positions, and 

 the golden-leaved variety equally so. Styrax 

 obassia is a plant with fine foliage, and is highly 

 decorative apart from the flowers. (See p. 131, fig. 14.) 



Messrs. Saltmarsh & Sons, the Moulsham 

 Nurseries, Chelmsford. 



Coniferous plants are an important feature, and 

 planters would here find a choice selection from 

 which to draw supplies. While there is a general 

 nursery stock, fruit trees form a considerable portion 

 of it, and Messrs. Saltmarsh & Sons have long been 

 famous for their standard Mulberries. Florist's 

 flowers, such as Dahlias, Verbenas, Phloxes, See., 

 can also be seen in good and choice collections ; 

 and as exhibitors of the first-named, Messrs. Salt- 

 marsh & Sons are very successful at the Crystal 

 Palace and other exhibitions. Against the offices 

 can be seen growing a venerable Clematis Jackmanni. 

 with a stem the girth of which is just 1 foot. It is 

 probably one of the earliest plants sent out by 

 Messrs. Jackman & Son, of Woking. It has to be 

 pruned back hard every year in order to keep it 

 within bounds. 



Among objects of interest are a bush of Genista 

 hispanica, the Spanish Gorse, which forms a dense 

 hemispherical bush, covered by a mass of yellow 

 flowers in spring; the foliage sprays are elegant at 

 all times ; Ligustrum ovalifolium variegatum, a very 

 handsome golden shrub, increased by means of cut- 

 tings ; the green-leaved type is also desirable, as the 

 early autumnal frosts change its foliage into bright 

 purple tints ; the purple-leaved Filbert, Corylus 

 Avellana purpurea, is also striking, having beautiful 

 dark purple foliage, with fruit to match ; the fruit 

 also is sweet and pleasant to the taste ; Quercus 

 cerris aurea, the variegated Turkey Oak, a tree that 

 is in fine character late in the season : Cistus rosens, 

 and that noble Cherry-Laurel. Cerasus latifolius, with 

 its fine dark green leaves. These are but a few of the 

 choice handsome ornamental trees and shrubs to be 

 found in the nurseries. 



In the way of Coniferous plants there is a very fine 

 specimen of Abies nobilis glauca, 35 to 40 feet in 

 height, and probably over thirty years of age, a 

 grafted specimen ; a very handsome form of the 

 golden Cupressus Lawsoniana, 10 feet in height ; 

 Cedrus atlantica glauca, very fine ; glaucous-tinted 

 form of Cupressus Lawsoniana, a very handsome sil- 

 very form of the common Yew, which came among a 

 batch of seedlings, and which Mr. Saltmarsh has 

 appropriately named albo spica ; some fine specimens 

 of Picea orientalis, some seedlings from Thuia 

 gigantea, much more dense in growth than is usual, and 

 which do not take the usual pyramidal form. Lovers 

 of Coniferous trees and shrubs will find much to 

 interest them at this season of the vear. 



While all kinds of fruit trees are in demand, there 

 is a brisk run upon some leading sorts of Apples, 

 such as Ribston Pippin, Normanton Wonder, Cox's 

 Orange Pippin, Blenheim Orange, &c. The new 

 Queen Apple is in brisk demand, and Mr. Saltmarsh 

 consider it one of the best late keepers grown. 

 Trained fruit trees of all kind» receive careful atten- 

 tion. Standard Plums are well grown. Mulberries 

 are largely propagated, standards finding a ready sale ; 

 but it takes from five to six years to get them into 

 saleable size. They are layered.in spring from stools, 

 they lie so for two years, then they are taken off, 

 planted in nursery beds, and gradually trained into 

 standard form. U. I). 



Fruits Under Glass. 



Figs. — The weather for some time back has not 

 been of a favourable character for the production of 

 luscious fruit, the temperatures having been main- 

 tained largely by artificial heat. Where early trees 

 are producing their second crop of fruit, the atmo- 

 sphere will have to be kept much drier than was 

 recommended for the trees when swelling the crop. 

 On the other hand, aridity would speedily cause red- 

 spider to put in an appearance. Gather the fruits as 

 they are fit — the fruit which is to be used at once — 

 when the skin is quite tender. If the fruit is to 

 travel, it must be picked rather under-ripe. When 

 the fruits which are ready are picked a good syringing 

 may be given to the trees, and the night temperature 

 maintained at 75°, with air admitted. Where the 

 trees are grown in tubs or pots, plenty of some kind 

 of weak stimulant should be afforded to assist them 

 in finishing their crop. Strip off all late shows. 

 Trees which require shifting should be seen to as 

 soon as they have finished fruiting. Guard against 

 over-potting ; once in two years is quite often enough 

 to shift Figs, if all has gone well. Use for potting 

 compost good turfy loam, lime-rubbish, and Thom- 

 son's manure. See that the drainage is properly 

 arranged, and of sufficient quantity. 



Melons. — The present season is not what could be 

 termed a good Melon season, as abundance of sun- 

 light is indispensable to high flavour. The dull, sun- 

 less, and cold weather is favourable to canker in the 

 stems, unless syringing and watering are conducted 

 with great caution ; syringing should only be resorted 

 to on very bright afternoons, and a simple dew over 

 will meet the requirements of the plants on all other 

 occasions. Confine damping to the paths, and keep 

 all moisture from the stems of the Vines. Let the 

 temperature be kept about 75° — 80°. Maintain a 

 dry atmosphere and a good circulation of warm air in 

 houses where the fruit is colouring. It has been a 

 difficult task lately to get Melons in frames to set 

 their fruit satisfactorily. Where heat is supplied 

 from fermenting material alone it will be necessary 

 to apply fresh linings to keep up the requisite tem- 

 perature. During cold nights, when the thermo- 

 meter falls to nearly 40°, some covering should be 

 placed over the glass at dark, and removed as soon 

 as possible in the morning. When pinching is 

 requisite let the work be carried out as early in the 

 day as possible, when the sun strikes the frames, so 

 that the sap from the wounds may be dried up before 

 the frame is closed for the night. Let each fruit be 

 elevated on the top of a flower-pot, so as to get all 

 the sun and air possible, and turn the fruit every 

 other day. The latest sowing for the season 

 should now be made. This will be the last crop of 

 Melons, but unless the season turns out sunny they 

 will not have much flavour. This lot of plants it 

 will be as well to grow in pots. Place a shallow box 

 on the top of the hot-water pipes. In this place a 

 layer of turf, and stand the pot on the top ; when the 

 roots emerge through the pots a little fresh compost 

 can be placed over them, and the roots in the box 

 can be watered without running all the water through 

 the pot. 



Cucumbers in full bearing must have rich light top- 

 dressings placed over their roots as they appear on 

 the surface. Old plants which show distress may be 

 cut over and allowed to break afresh. Keep dry at 

 the root, but syringe two or three times a day until 

 the young shoots develope a few leaves. Shade during 

 the bright part of the day. When growth becomes 

 rapid, remove a portion of the old soil from the 

 roots, and replace with fresh. See that the bottom- 

 heat in dung frames is kept up ; where it has 

 declined, fresh linings must be applied. 



Train and pinch the points of young plants which 

 were recommended to be sown last month. Do not 

 allow them to bear until they have furnished the 

 trellis. Now is a good time to sow for winter. Let the 

 structures be thoroughly cleansed before the seeds are 

 planted. As they have a long season of dull, uncon- 

 genial weather before them, it is important that 

 they should receive all available light possible. 

 Also the season is not favourable for dealing with 

 spider and other pests, hence the advantage of a 

 clean start. 



Strawberry Plants for Forcinr/. — These plants 

 should now be in their fruiting pots, and when they 

 have begun to make fresh roots they should be placed 

 where they are intended to make their growth — a 

 piece of ground with a good bottom of clinkers or 

 stones, covered with a couple of inches of screened 

 coal-ashes or gravel. The situation should be fully 



exposed to the sun, and a good plan is to mark out 

 the ground into beds, for the easy examination of 

 the plants. Some growers provide trellises for the 

 plants. This is undoubtedly a good plan, if the 

 weather be wet, or for late autumn treatment ; 

 but where several thousands of plants are grown 

 it is an item of considerable expense, but where 

 it can be carried out, by all means let it be adopted. 

 The plants must receive careful attention as to 

 watering, the runners closely kept pinched off 

 as they appear, and the pots kept clear of weeds. 

 Such varieties as Vicomtesse Hericart de Thurv and 

 Sir Charles Napier have a great tendency to throw 

 off several crowns. This must have attention, and 

 the best crown only allowed to develope itself, the 

 others being removed. It is scarcely possible to 

 recommend sorts of Strawberries for forcing, as some 

 varieties succeed admirably in one district, and 

 refuse to grow at all in another. W. St. Baillic, 

 Luton Hoo. 



The Flower Garden. 



Roses. — Any budding that yet remains to be done 

 should be pushed forward. Where this work was 

 begun in good time, the earliest buds inserted had 

 better be examined and the ties loosened where 

 necessary, neglect in this matter often resulting in 

 injury to the swelling buds. Look over Tea Roses 

 and strong growing varieties that are trained against 

 walls, pillars, or trellises, cutting out all weakly and 

 superabundant growths, not forgetting to tie or nail 

 in the strongest shoots as often as becomes necessary, 

 not overcrowding them, but allowing space for 

 proper development. If mildew has made its ap- 

 pearance, no time should be lost in checking its 

 course. Mildew compositions may be obtained 

 from most seedsmen. Cut off seed pods ; and pull up 

 all suckers from Manetti stocks. 



Carnations and Picotees. — Layering of these must 

 now be carried forward, and for this purpose use a 

 compost consisting of three parts loam, one of silver- 

 sand, and one of leaf-mould, the whole to be passed 

 through a fine sieve previous to using it. The opera- 

 tions of layering, it may be stated for the benefit of 

 the inexperienced, consists of pinching off the bottom 

 leaves from the strongest shoots of the current 

 year's growth ; cut off also the points of the leaves ; 

 afterwards spread in between and round the shoots 

 a 2-inch thickness of prepared compost, press down 

 moderately firm, and with a sharp knife make a clean 

 cut halfway through a fully developed node or joint, 

 the knife entering just below, and drawn upwards 

 in a slanting direction so as to form a tongue, 

 then with a short hooked peg secure in proper 

 positions the young shoot in prepared compost, add- 

 ing another inch, or half inch, of the latter over the 

 base of the layers. Should dry weather be expe- 

 rienced afterwards, they must be kept watered 

 through a fine rose watering-pot till rooted. Weak 

 growing varieties are best propagated by cuttings put 

 in well-drained clean 5-inch pots, and placed on a 

 gentle hotbed, and shaded from bright sunshine. 



Outdoor Ferneries. — These should be looked over 

 again, and freed from weeds if necessary. The fronds 

 of most species are now fully developed, and are 

 rapidly coming into fructification, so that the proper 

 time has arrived for the cultivators to ascertain the 

 correct names of species and varieties of any plants 

 in his collection of whose nomenclature he enter- 

 tains doubt. The Editor of this paper will name 

 species of not more than six specimens at a time ; 

 but it would be too much to expect him to name 

 varieties, and these had better be referred to specialists. 

 Amongst the best of the British Ferns we have here 

 at the present time, I may mention Athyrium, F.-f. 

 Craigii,A.F.-f.Victori:B,A.F.-f.corymbiferum,A.F.-f. 

 apiseforme, Cystopteris fragilis, Allosorus crispus, 

 Polystichum lonchitis, P. angulare Bayliaj, Scolopen- 

 drum v. Cliftii, S. v. marginatum, and I mention 

 them here as worthy of cultivation in any well 

 kept garden, either on rockeries or for planting 

 amongst old stumps and roots of trees in shady 

 nooks and corners. They range in height from 

 4 inches to 2 feet. Many more native species and 

 varieties equally good might be given, but it is not 

 in brief calendarial notes that they can be noted. 



Lawns.— It will be a good plan to skim these over 

 with the scythe, so as to take oft" the long bents that 

 escape cutting by the machine, and it will also be 

 advisable to give some attention to any weeds which 

 may be found on the lawn. Cut out Plantains, and 

 destroy Dandelions by applying a drop of vitriol to 

 each crown. J. Horsefield, Hcijtesbnry. 



