December 15 1SR8.] 



fRE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



707 



will never be forgotten by me. This was the only 

 exhibition which we could really call " internati >nal " 

 in character. We have visited ten since that time, 

 all good, but would be specially obliged by informa- 

 tion as to when the first was held. Hbrtue. [Does our 

 correspondent forget the International of 1866? Ed.] 



DISA LACERA. — I quite agree with Mr. X. E. 

 Brown in placing all the varieties of blue Disa 

 which have recently flowered under this species, and 

 I can give confirmatory evidence to his theory that 

 it is impossible to call one set D. purpurascens and 

 the other D. lacera. The whole of the specimens 

 noted as having flowered (I do not know about the 

 Kew one), and also others, among which I may 

 record one which flowered with Messrs. James Veitch 

 & Sons last summer, and which I immediately pro- 

 nounced to be D. lacera, were imported by me from 

 one spot in South Africa, where they all grew 

 together, and, according to my correspondent, there 

 displayed that variability of colour which Mr. Brown 

 suspects, as well as the differences in the fringing of 

 the lip, of which we have evidence. So unreliable 

 does this feature appear, and so common is the appa- 

 rently uncut labellum that men with good botanical 

 knowledge on the spot who have the means of seeing 

 thousands in flower regard them all as D. gramini- 

 folia; indeed, a passage in a recent letter from a 

 correspondent there, from whom I had asked infor- 

 mation, deal3 with it as admitting of no doubt, 

 simply saying, "Your Disa lacera is J), gramini- 

 folia." Tins conclusion is probably arrived at by 

 the general appearance of the flowers, and not by 

 comparative analysis. The last one which flowered 

 with Mr. A. H. Smee, I must confess, deceived me, 

 for the lip exhibited an apparently smooth edge. 

 Examination since, however, reveals the barest 

 trace of a rudimentary fringe, and this feature will 

 always be more or less developed in D. lacera. 

 James O'Brien. 



LARGE AND SHOWY APPLES.— The double and 

 horizontal trained cordons generally occupy a position 

 at no great distance from walks, and are used in a great 

 many gardens for the purpose of forming an edging 

 to them. When this is the object, it seems to me 

 that, the trees being immediately under the eye, and 

 ai the cordon, when in a healthy condition, gener- 

 ally produces fine fruit according to the variety, it 

 is well to plant a selection of large, and those having 

 an attractive appearance. Trees neatly trained, and 

 when well cropped with fine specimen fruit, it is 

 needless to say, are viewed by one and all with a 

 wonderful amount of interest, and when planted 

 close to the sides of walks as an edging they take up 

 very little room, and the little trees are easily 

 managed. For my own part, I do not care to see 

 the horizontal-trained cordon too close to the 

 ground, as is very often the case. Fourteen inches 

 high is, in my opinion, none too much to look well, 

 and about 8 to 10 inches away from the sides of the 

 walks. It is by no means a difficult task to form 

 good rows of trees, neither does it take a long period 

 of time to bring them into bearing. All that is 

 required is to stretch oat horizontally a good stout 

 single iron wire (not galvanised), fixing it firmly at 

 each end at the height required, stout wood or iron 

 posts being used at intervals as supports. It is, 

 however, necessary to have one end fitted with the 

 handy French invention — a raidisscur — so that the 

 wire may be readily tightened. In commencing with 

 maiden trees, and which are probably the best in the 

 end, I would plant double cordons at 10 feet, and 

 single at 6 to 8 feet apart. For the double cordon 

 it will be necessary to cut the tree down to the 

 height of the wire, and subsequently to train two 

 shoots, resulting from this cutting-back, in oppo- 

 site directions, endeavouring to obtain an evenly 

 balanced tree. Such a cordon should, with 

 attention as regards summer pruning, soon come 

 into bearing. Trees after having been planted 

 a few years, often make strong and unfruitful 

 growth, and it is well to check this kind of growth 

 without delay by digging around the trees in the 

 autumn and pruning them, or replanting — the latter 

 being really the best method. A list of large and 

 good varieties of Apples suitable for all save the 

 least favoured parts of Britain can be selected from 

 the fruit catalogues of most of the important nur- 

 serymen, so that an enumeration of them here is not 

 wanted. H. Markham, Mereworth Castle, Maidstone. 



STACHYSTUBERIFERA. — Referring to Mr. Thomas' 

 excellent suggestion, we would state, that as there 

 appears to be some slight obscurity with regard to 

 the actual origin of this plant, we have decided to 

 call it " the Chinese Artichoke," and think it a 



favourable name by which it can be recognised in 

 future. James Carter ij- Co. 



PRIMULA RUSBYI.— Fermit me to state that I 

 was the introducer and first exhibitor of this species. 

 I obtained it from Fassaic, New Jersey, U.S.A., early 

 in spring. The plants soon came into flower, and 

 were exhibited at one of the meetings of the Royal 

 Horticultural Society, obtaining a First-class Certifi- 

 cate of Merit. I did not succeed with it afterwards. 

 I think it proved too delicate for our climate, though 

 probably I did not understand the treatment it 

 required. I do not think it has been exhibited at one 

 of the meetings of the Royal Horticultural Society's 

 since probably with the exception of the Primula 

 Conference. B. Dean, Ealing. W. 



FIRM SOIL FOR FRUIT TREE8.— We have noticed 

 in many of the best fruit districts throughout England 

 (especially Kent, Oxfordshire, and Worcestershire), 

 that in positions where trees had unlimited space to 

 grow (often on farm buildings and houses in streets) 

 the fruit was of much excellence and little pruning 

 was required. But on examination of the roots we 

 found that in every case the soil was almost firm as 

 a rock — had not been disturbed for many years, and 

 in numerous cases there was a gravel path or cart- 

 road over them. We always believe in allowing a 

 root run in proportion to the dimensions of the 

 branches ; but at the same time have many proofs to 

 which we could refer, that large trees can remain 

 healthy for many years and bear excellent crops of 

 fruit, also in limited spaces. The best Jargonelle 

 Fears we ever saw were grown on a tradesman's house, 

 with an aspect to the west and which had only a few 

 feet outwards for the roots to subsist in — and the 

 traffic to the dwelling-house was over them. The finest 

 Apricots we have ever seen are grown in Oxfordshire, 

 and many of the trees have subsisted in the path- 

 ways to dwelling-houses : and we know where some 

 are doing remarkably well under the causeway of 

 streets. In the West of England (in Bath district) 

 Figs are to be found, year by year, bearing immense 

 crops of the finest fruit ever seen, where the roots are 

 encased in soil which has never been exposed to the 

 light of day during the memory of the oldest in- 

 habitants, and it is firm like concrete. In Essex and 

 Suffolk (a county in which our friend, Mr. Sheppard, 

 has done a deal of grand gardening), we have seen 

 vineries which have been loaded year after year with 

 bunches of white Grapes outside (chiefly on dwel- 

 ling-houses"), and scarcely a yard of ground in which 

 the roots could extend outwards, and that had been 

 trampled as a path for many years. We have always 

 had strong faith in firm soil for fruit trees. SI. T.X. B. 



CHRYSANTHEMUMS ON WALLS.— I do not think 

 that the many lovers of the Chrysanthemum have 

 yet arrived at what may be termed the real value of 

 these flowers when grown in suitable positions and 

 in favoured localities as wall plants. Chrysanthemums 

 are not climbers certainly, but, if by confining our- 

 selves to a few good free-flowering and comparatively 

 hardy kinds we can have the walls of our dwellings 

 enlivened with their flowers I think that few would 

 say nay, and particularly those who do not possess a 

 greenhouse, and, in short, have not the means at 

 disposal for building one. There are many, doubt- 

 less, who would embrace them in the manner here 

 stated, if they had any faith in its efficacy. Of this 

 there need be little doubt in all warm sheltered 

 positions, especially on south walls. Quite recently I 

 have seen some very passable blooms growing on plants 

 which have been planted against the dwelling-house 

 wall, and which have been nailed in position as the 

 growth was made. The varieties which did best 

 were Alfred Salter, Venus, Mrs. Dixon, Julia 

 Lagravere — the two last doing equally well with an 

 eastern aspect ; while Madame Desgrange in a similar 

 position flowered during the recent frosts with its 

 wonted freedom, and hardly a petal was injured. I doubt 

 not there are many other kinds which would make a 

 really creditable display if grown as here indicated, 

 selecting some of the semi-early kinds, as James 

 Salter and Eady Selborne, Mdlle. Lacroix, Mrs. 

 Bundle, L'Or du Rhin, Blanche Columb, and such 

 things. In such positions the wood is almost sure 

 to be well matured — a primary point in conection 

 with their flowering. Annual planting does not 

 appear essential, since plants may remain unremoved 

 for two or more years. This fact enhances their 

 value somewhat, since it enables the grower who may 

 desire to increase the size of the plants and the 

 space they will cover to train in more shoots from 

 the base of the plants than would be possible were 

 they moved yearly. I do not claim that there is 



anything original in the above, as many cottagers 

 adopt it in various parts of the country, and I 

 believe it is not altogether unknown in Ireland, and 

 my father also adopted it at least twenty years ago. 

 Autumn flowering wall plants are by no means 

 numerous, and if Chrysanthemums may" be added, so 

 much the better. ./. 



ARALIA SIEBOLDII.— A large clump of this hand- 

 some Japanese plant which appears to have been with 

 us just about half a century, has been an object of 

 considerable interest in a sunny forecourt garden of 

 a villa residence at Ealing. Two plants were origin- 

 ally planted ont, and they have so increased by means 

 of throwing out stems that they form quite a thicket, 

 and they have borne many panicles of their peculiar 

 white flowers during the autumn, and helped by the 

 sunny weather they have been as fine as under glass. 

 The late Mr. Mongredien wrote of this plant twenty 

 years ago — "A splendid addition to our fine-foliaged 

 plants, and, if it should prove hardy, no garden ought 

 to be without it." That it may be regarded as hardy 

 in the South and West of England, and in the more 

 Southern Midland Counties there can be no doubt ; 

 and probably farther North than is generally imagined. 

 But what is the nature of the secretion which exudes 

 from the blossoms that proves 60 attractive to the 

 blow-flies? B. D. 



YELLOW-BERRIED YEWS.— In your issue of the 

 17th nit., p. 570, Mr. Watson, of the Clontarf Nur- 

 sery, gives an account of the fine old yellow-berried 

 Yews at Clontarf Castle, near Dublin, and admits 

 being in doubt as to the existence of any others in 

 Ireland, but should he pay a visit to Powerscourt, 

 I should be happy to show him a fine old speci- 

 men. Our best tree is about 40 feet high, with 

 wide-spreading branches, having a clear stem ofo 

 feet to the nearest boughs, and 20 inches in diameter, 

 now in full berry. There is also another old tree, 

 which was transplanted some eighteen or twenty 

 years ago, and pruned down to about 20 feet from the 

 ground, but it is making very slow growth. The age 

 of the foregoing Yews is not certain, as there are no 

 data as to time of planting, but Lord Powerscourt, 

 who takes especial interest in all matters concerning 

 trees and shrubs, tells me they cannot be less than 

 one hundred years old if not 150 years. There are 

 some nice bushes here raised from seed of the old 

 trees I speak of, 8 feet and 12 feet through, with 

 dense dark green foliage, and studded profusely with 

 these yellow berries, which are much admired at the 

 present time. I send a specimen of some for your 

 inspection. D. Crombie. 



CHISWICK TRIALS.— Your correspondent from 

 'Over the Sea," after animadverting recently on 

 the fact of one of the committees of the Royal Hor- 

 ticultural Society largely composed of persons in- 

 terested in commercial horticulture, inquires " What 

 chance has an interesting plant exhibited by an 

 amateur ? " As I am an amateur, and have lately 

 been " in touch " with one of the committees, through 

 its secretary, Mr. A. F. Barron, it may be of interest to 

 your readers to hear my experience. The subject of 

 our correspondence was early dwarf Rhubarb, of 

 which I claim to possess a kind differing from any 

 other I have seen or heard of, and which for many 

 years I have studied to cultivate in the best way. I 

 do not force it, but treat it in such a manner as a 

 long and patient experience has led me to adopt, 

 and, as grown by me in the open ground, it seldom 

 fails to supply me with a dish of Rhubarb 

 before February is out, as I have said, without 

 forcing. Having published these facts elsewhere, 

 and having, of course, my statements challenged, I 

 accepted the challenge made in the Journal 

 of Horticulture (July 5, 1888, p. 10) to send 

 a root of my Rhubarb to Chiswick for trial. What 

 person who had succeeded in growing a vegetable in 

 the open, a very long month in advance of any grower 

 known, would submit his vegetable for adjudica- 

 tion without supplying cultural directions ? With 

 regard to Rhubarb as grown in England for early 

 consumption I have come to the conclusion that the 

 usual mode is unscientific. The plant naturally 

 contains oxalic acid, which from its unwholesomeness 

 leads the best physicians to strike this vegetable oft' 

 the dietary of many patients. Believing that this 

 oxalic acid is largely developed by any known 

 mode of forcing I have given up forcing altogether, 

 and have printed my mode of treatment. I inquired, 

 therefore, of the Chiswick authorities if, in the event 

 of my sending (as I was willing to do), a root of my 

 early Rhubarb for adjudication, the committee would 

 cause to be followed my printed cultural direc- 



