NoVEMBEB 10, 188&] 



THE GAR DE NUBS' CHRONICLE. 



535 



Cattleya flowers are scarcest. Several plants of it 

 have been in great beauty in our collection for the 

 past three weeks ; and among them are throe distinct 

 varieties, varying from light rose to a deep rosy-purple, 

 not unlike a good dark form of Cattleya Skinneri. 

 It is a very free-flowering species, and we have at the 

 present time as many as sixteen flowers on a spike. 

 Erin. 



L/LI.IA AXCEI'S. 



" The range of Laslia anceps extends in the State 

 of Vera Cruz on the Atlantic coast from Jalapa, its 

 northern limit, to Orizaba southwards. It grows on 

 the eastern side of the Cordilleras, and is most 

 abundant in the neighbourhood of Cordova. Leav- 

 ing these districts it is not found again until, in a 

 southerly direction, the Pacific coast U reached. 

 The original localities for this L.-clia are on the 

 Atlantic coast, and in those the typical form prevails. 

 It is from the Pacific side that the numerous white 

 varieties recently discovered and imported have 

 come. 



Generally this La;lia is found growing on trees on 

 the outskirts of virgin forests, but occasionally on 

 rocks fully exposed to sun and air. The plants cling 

 to the rocks by means of their roots, and these are 

 nourished by decayed moss and detritus. Wherever 

 the plants grow fully exposed their bulbs and leaves 

 assume a ruddy tinge, while those in partial shade 

 are green, and do not flower so abundantly. 

 The climate of this part of Mexico is peculiar. 

 There is a distinct rainy season extending from May 

 to October. During this period the plants are 

 drenched daily with rains for several hours, and 

 throughout the night are thoroughly saturated. 

 Early in the morning a cold, drying wind blows 

 and dries the plants, which afterwards are fully ex- 

 posed to the fierce sun, until the daily storm 

 drenches them afresh. After the rainy season has 

 ceased (in November) the plants flower, and the 

 new growths formed during the rainy season 

 are fully developed, and become firm or ripened. 

 Now the plants owing to the dryness, are at rest, but 

 about the end of February the new bulbs begin to 

 show signs of activity by sending out roots, and 

 these are encouraged by the " short rainy season " 

 which occurs about that time. But the rain then 

 is only like fine mist, and does not saturate the 

 plants ; and this goes on until the return of the 

 long rainy season. The new bulbs begin to 

 form about March, and are well advanced before the 

 heavy rains come. These are the main points in the 

 observations gathered from collectors, and from them 

 growers may glean hints as to the treatment of 

 Lselia anceps, though, of course, due allowance 

 must always be made for the artificial conditions 

 under which Orchids are cultivated in Europe, and 

 the wide difference in the power of a Mexican sun 

 and clear atmosphere. It would be difficult to 

 imitate closely the natural conditions, but the main 

 principles of cultural treatment maybe founded upon 

 the climatic peculiarities of their native habitats." 

 Sander's " Reichcnbaokia." 



WALL FKUIT-TEEE BORDERS. 



These, when skirting the fruit-walls, are almost 

 invariably made far too narrow. The object of a 

 specially made border for our fruit trees is that it 

 should be a better place for the growth of the trees, 

 and the ripening of wood and fruit, than could be 

 found in the unsheltered border away from the wall. 

 For this purpose it should be made from l. J to 2 feet 

 higher next to the wall than the rest of the surround- 

 ing ground ; this admits not only of an increase in 

 the depth of soil, but it renders the border warmer, 

 and if the drainage of the garden generally is good, 

 such a border is also drier than the rest of the soil. I 

 should always advocate the laying in of rubble drains, 

 V-shaped at the bottom, at a depth from the surface 

 of 4 feet, in lines 25 feet apart, running crosswise of 

 the border, and emptying into a pipe-drain under the 

 walk. The draining of fruit borders should not end 

 with the south border, but should extend to all 



aspects ; the northern one especially should be well 

 done, as here the evaporation is less than elsewhere, 

 and this border, as a place for late Cherries, Plums 

 and Pears, bush fruits, Strawberries, salads and other 

 vegetables, renders it almost as important as the 

 south border, but in a retarding in contradistinction 

 to a hastening sense. 



Where space allows of its being done, the whole 

 of the fruit borders should measure from front 

 to back 20 feet, and the south border might be 

 advantageously of 36 feet, with a rise of 2 feet from 

 the walk ; and to give sufficient space to train the 

 trees this wall should be built so much higher than 

 the others. The space reserved for the trees on any 

 border should not be less than 7 feet, and for l't ar 

 trees. on the Pear stock it should be more than that. 

 This part of the border should be level, not sloping, 

 like the rest, otherwise, owing to the trampling of 

 the soil in attending to the trees the rain would run 

 off and the trees suffer from want of water at the 

 root especially near the wall itself, thereby entailing 

 much labour in watering if the trees are to be kept 

 in health. 



To prevent the encroachment of the cropped part 

 of the border on the tree portion of it, it is always 

 best to plant a line of Violets, alpine Strawberries, 

 lfepaticas, Polyanthuses, or any low-growing peren- 

 nial plant. This line serves as a hint to the most 

 ignorant gardener-labourer that digging ended there. 

 All roots found ontside of this fence should be cut 

 off annually, for if allowed to get into the richly 

 manured cropping ground, strong growth and its 

 usual concomitant unfruitfulness are certain to 

 result. The trampling of the soil of the fruit tree 

 border above alluded to, which occasions a hard and 

 usually an impervious crust, could be averted in 

 great measure by placing a line of close trellis — say. 

 II foot wide — or else broad rough hard-wood slabs on 

 the soil on which to walk, and then with slight 

 mulching of horse-dung (on the south border only), 

 and a very slight pricking up of the soil in the 

 month of April, and one again in July or August, 

 a border made as described would be so genial a 

 medium for the roots of fruit trees, that in only the 

 worst of subsoils would it be thought necessary to put 

 in impervious bottoms of concrete, rubble, coal-ashes, 

 or stone slabs, beneath the trees, and there would be, 

 moreover, not any fear that the soil would become 

 either waterlogged or too dry. As a site for push- 

 ing forward early crops there is no better place 

 than a warm, deep border, facing south, and having 

 a slope that increases the angle at which the sun's 

 rays impinge upon it. F. M. 



Fruit Register. 



PEAKS. 

 I NOTICE that Doyenne Boussoch is favourably 



spoken of by Mr. Ward, but its good looks are about 

 its only recommendation, and it is to be hoped that 

 sorts having real quality aud high flavour will take 

 their proper place at exhibitions, and be placed 

 before such as have mere size and showy appearance 

 to gain the awards. Beurre dAmanlis is more 

 passable than the one just referred to, but that is not 

 first-rate, and as it comes in at the same time as 

 Beurre Superfin and Fondante d'Automne, it is far 

 better to grow these in its place. What is wanted 

 is a much abridged list of varieties, and no garden, 

 however large, need have more than twelve or fifteen 

 sorts ; and if these are judiciously selected they 

 will give more satisfaction than any collection. My 

 selection would be as follows, taking them in the 

 order of ripening: — First, Williams' Bon Chretien, 

 Fondante d'Automne, Beurre Superfin, Marie Louise, 

 Doyenne du Cornice, Glou Morceau, Winter Nelis, 

 Josephine de Malines, Bergamot Esperen, Beurre 

 Kance. Glou Morceau requires a good situation to grow 

 it really well, but in favourable soils or districts it 

 succeeds admirably on the Quince, coming quite clear 

 in the skin without any cracking. Bergamot Esperen 

 and Beurre Ranee also need warm aspects, and should 



be left on the trees as long as they will hang, as that 

 makes a great difference to their finish and keeping. 

 J. Sheppard, Ipswich. 



Peak Madame Tbeyve. 

 At Mereworth Castle, Kent, this deliciously- 

 flavoured free-bearing Pear generally ripens from the 

 middle to the end of September. The fruits when 

 ripe are not, however, as handsome in colour as 

 many other things, being of a somewhat greenish 

 yellow on the shaded side, but on the side next the 

 sun frequently the fruit becomes a bright crimson 

 colour, marked with numerous russet dots. It is 

 one of the most reliable kinds we grow, and bears 

 annually marvellous crops of good-sized fruits, clean 

 in the skin and of good shape. Iu its slightly per- 

 fumed flavour there is something extremely pleasant 

 to the taste, which differs considerably from that 

 found in other Pears. The flesh is almost white, 

 free of grit, full of juice, and with but very small 

 core, and in its season keeps as well as any other 

 Pear which ripens about the same time. 



Pear Tbiomphe de Viexne. 



This is another fine prolific variety, and of remark- 

 ably good quality, ripening about the same time as 

 the above sort. Mr. Bunyard, in his Fruit Catalogue, 

 mentions that this is a new variety. It is of greet 

 excellence, and our standard trees have borne good 

 crops for three years running. The fruit is of a 

 russetty brown, large, and handsome in colour. The 

 flesh is rather gritty, but it is very rich and melting, 

 I do not find the flavour of any Pear or Peach this 

 season equal to what it was in the last. H. Mar/chaw, 

 Mereworth Castle. 



Goldex Eagle Teach. 



In many establishments where Peaches are in 

 demand late ones are as much appreciated as early 

 ones. As this is the case here I have been to some 

 trouble and expense to find the best varieties, and 

 enclose you samples gathered this day from a tree 

 carrying seven dozen handsome fruit. Your im- 

 partial opinion as to quality will afford the best 

 guarantee. It will be sufficient for me to say that 

 we have fruited Golden Eagle for three years, aud 

 it has been highly satisfactory. Grown in a late 

 Feach-uouse and started naturally it makes a good 

 succession to Walburton Admirable, aud Princess of 

 Wales. I am not much in favour of yellow-flesh 

 Peaches, but as this is so useful I cannot despise it 

 Owing to the severe weather we have used a little fire- 

 heat this year. The tree is not a gross growing 

 variety, but medium, rather Willow-like shoots, 

 quite free from mildew or fly. I enclose samples of 

 Apricots also, as a novelty; we have been gathering 

 a long time. When put in a warm place for a few 

 days they make an uncommon dish of dessert of fair 

 quality. J. H. Goodacre. [The Golden Eagle is a 

 fine showy fruit, but of indifferent flavour. The 

 matter of flavour is doubtless due to want of sun- 

 heat and light and free ventilation — all unprocurable 

 things during an English October. Ed.] 



Roses. 



TEA AND NOISETTE ROSES. 



" Wild Rose'' does good service in combating the 

 mischievous superstition that the Tea-scented Roses 

 are too tender for general cultivation in this country. 

 There may be some few bleak situations in the Mid- 

 lands where the plants require considerable protec- 

 tion in winter, but there is abundant proof that 

 north, south, east, and west these most beautiful of 

 all Roses may be successfully grown upon the native 

 Brier seedling or cutting stock, and in all probability 

 their culture on their own roots is destined to 

 become considerably extended. 



Whether " Wild Itose " has got the true reason 

 for the failure of the Tea-scented Koses upon the 

 Manetti stock seems doubtful, because Rosa multi- 

 flora, which grows just as early in the season as 

 Manetti, and is even more vigorous, makes an 



