August 10, 1876. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



127 



planting season. They were -not neoessarily to pick out the 

 biggest, but rather vigorous, healthy, young stocks, which 

 showed no sign of having been cheoked or stunted in their 

 growth. They should not go in for too many varieties of fruit. 

 On his three acres he had more than one hundred sorts of 

 Pears, forty of Apples, thirty of Plums, to say nothing of 

 Currants and Gooseberries. From his own point of view this 

 variety was necessary ; for he was experimenting to see what 

 sorts would best suit the locality and pay the best ; but to 

 farmers this endless variety would be very troublesome, 

 especially if the specimens were dotted about in different 

 parts. The beat plan, if they were planting a hedgerow, was 

 to plant it all with one sort of fruit. Then, one going over 

 the ground, or at most two gatherings sufficed, and a vast 

 deal of labour and confusion were saved. So, too, in orchards, 

 whether on turf or arable. If they had several sorts let them 

 keep each sort in a separate row ; or if more than one row of 

 the same sort was desired they should have the rows together, 

 so that that portion of the ground might be cleared at once of 

 its produce. They should be very careful about the pruning 

 for the first three or four years until the heads were got into 

 shape. After this the trees might be left to themselves, merely 

 cutting out the branches which interlaced from time to time. 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 



We omitted to notice that at the last meeting of the Floral 

 Committee at South Kensington twelve varieties of cut blooms 

 of double Pelargoniums were exhibited by Mr. Cannell, Swan- 

 ley, Kent. The varieties were Jaoobcea (Laxton), Lucie Le- 

 moine (Lemoine), Eugene Bandowin (Keteleer), Henri Beurier 

 (Alegatiere), Konig Albert, Ivy-leaved (Liebman), C. H. Wagner 

 (Alegatiere), Figaro (Lemoine), Louis Boutard (Boutard), Louis 

 Buchner (Buehner), M. Buchner (Lemoine), Mdme. Amelio 

 Baltet (Lemoine), and Meteor Flag (Turner). This was the 

 finest collection of double Pelargoniums that has come under 

 our notice. The colours varied from pure white to rich crimBon. 

 A vote of thanks was awarded for them. 



Never quT plowers during intense sunshine, nor keep 



them exposed to the sun or wind. Neither collect them in large 

 bundles, nor tie them tightly together, as it hastens their decay. 

 Do not pull them, but cut them cleanly off the stems with 

 a sharp knife, not with a pair of Bcissors. When taken indoors 

 place them in the shade, and reduce them to the required 

 length of stalk with a sharp knife, by which means the tubes 

 through which they draw up the water will be left open, and 

 the water will ascend freely ; whereas if the stems are bruised 

 or lacerated, these pores will be closed up. Use pure water to 

 set them in, or pure white sand in a state of saturation, stick- 

 ing the ends of the stalks in it, but not in a crowded manner. 

 If the stems are put in water alone it ought to be changed 

 daily, and a thin slice should be cut off the ends of the stalks 

 at every change of water. 



One of the moat brilliant of hardy border plants is the 



double Scarlet Lychnis. We lately saw plants flowering in 

 the collection of Mr. Ware of Tottenham, and the remnants 

 of the flowers which had been left by the hailstorm were quite 

 dazzling. The individual pips are as large as those of double 

 Pelargoniums, and the colour ia brighter than the brightest of 

 the Pelargoniums. For distinct effect few plants are more 

 conspicuous than this double Lychnis, and the flowers also 

 will bear the closest examination. As a companion plant the 

 double white Lychnis is also worthy of culture. The plants 

 are perfectly hardy, will flourish in almoat any kind of soil, 

 and require little attention beyond thinning-out the shoots and 

 staking to prevent them being broken by the wind. 



The double-flowered Ivy-leaved Pelargonium Konig 



Albet is likely to prove the forerunner of other valuable va- 

 rieties of the same type. Already Mr. Bull of Chelsea has 

 raised some seedlings, which are perfectly double and varied 

 in colour, and which can hardly fail to be sought after. Un- 

 like the doubles of the Zonal type, the new Ivy-leaved varieties 

 possess the same free-flowering habit as the single varieties ; 

 and as the colours are pleasing and distinct from those of the 

 Zonals, and the trusses have long and stout footstalks, they 

 will be valuable for bouquets and other purposes to which out 

 flowers are devoted. 



In another column it is noted that a subscription list is 



organised for the relief of the sufferers by the late hailstorms 

 which recently devastated the districts in the north and north- 

 east of London. We have lately passed through those districts, 



and seen how extreme is the injury which has been done to 

 nurseries, gardens, and glass structures. In some places 

 scarcely a vestige of foliage is left on the crops and plants. 

 More than 90 per cent, of the glass has been broken in green- 

 houses which were exposed to the violence of the storm, and 

 we can testify that the losses are fully as great as have been 

 represented. 



The number of persons who visited the Royal Horti- 

 cultural Societv'a Gardens on Bank Holiday, August 7th, at 

 2d. each, was 5705 = £47 10s. Wd. 



Just on the eve of going to press we have received & 



box of blooms of single Petunias from Mr. Cannell, Swanley, 

 Kent, which for size, richness of colour, and purity of markings, 

 surpass all that have previously come under our notice. 



Arundo donax is growing luxuriantly in the nurseries 



at Sawbridgeworth, and its stems are turned to profitable 

 account as supports for the training of fruit trees and other 

 useful purposes. It is perfectly hardy, requiring no protection 

 whatever during the winter or spring. This plant is a native 

 of the south of Europe, growing in moist places, and its canes 

 are employed for fishing-roda and for the training of Vines. 

 Planted by the sides of water in the southern parts of Eng- 

 land this fine Reed would have an ornamental effect, and tha 

 dried canes could be turned to account in providing straight 

 and neat supports for plants in the flower garden. The young 

 shoots of this plant have been recommended to be eaten as 

 Asparagus. 



Owing to the extreme heat and drought, and the dry 



gravelly subsoil, many of the Lime trees in the neighbour- 

 hood of London, notably on Clapham Common, are entirely 

 denuded of their foliage, and present quite a cheerless appear- 

 ance. It is the fashion now to plant Limes somewhat freely 

 as ornamental trees on account of their free growth, but their 

 short period of leafage in dry soils is a matter worthy of being 

 remembered. In strong moist soils they will remain green 

 and fresh for some weeks to come. 



The pomologieal display in connection with the Phila- 

 delphia International Exhibition will take place from Sep- 

 tember 11th to September 16th, in a special annexe to the 

 Agricultural Hall. Tables and dishes will be provided free of 

 charge, and the contributions will also be reoeived, unpacked, 

 and labelled by the department. The display will consist 

 of Bixteen classes, from Nos. 881 to 896. No. 881, summer 

 Apples ; 882, autumn Apples ; 883, winter Apples ; 884, summer 

 Pears; 8S5, autumn Pears; 886. winter Pears; 887, freestone 

 Peaches; 888, cling Peaches ; S89, Apricots; 890, Nectarines; 

 891, Plums; 892, native Grapes; 893, foreign Grapes; 894, 

 Water Melons; 895, Citron Melons ; 896, tropical plants. In- 

 tending exhibitors should apply without delay to the offices of 

 the British executive, 5, Craig's Court, Charing Cross. 



ROSE JOHN BRIGHT. 



Mr. Camm, at page 91 of the present volume of the Journal 

 of Horticulture, is under a misapprehension in making me the 

 foster parent of h.p. Rose John Bright, which is one of Mr. 

 George Paul's seedlings ; I am not, therefore, responsible for 

 the alliance he makes between imperialism and democracy. 

 Empress of India is one of my seedlings, and sent out by Mr. 

 G. Paul. It is a very fine dark show Rose, but I fail to see its 

 likenees to Reynolds Hole. The worthy namesake of that 

 Rose says, " It is a commixture of Pierre Notting and Louis 

 Van Houtte, though quite distinct from both, and seems tome 

 full of promise." The wood of the Empress is spiny, and the 

 petals somewhat overlap in the way of Louis XIV. Her 

 Majesty was raised to the dignity of Empress, and received a 

 first-class certificate from the Royal Horticultural Society long 

 before the mention of the imperial title met with hostility. — 

 Thomas Laxton, Stamford. 



CHEAP AND EFFECTIVE ICE HOUSE. 

 An ice house made of rails on the top of the ground in the 

 open sun will preserve ice all summer if rain is kept from it, 

 and a foot of sawdust is kept between it and the earth. The 

 ice must be closely packed to prevent a continuous contact with 

 air at every point. My ice house stands in the sun on a dry 

 knoll, is made of rough boards about 12 by 16 feet half-board 

 length, 8 feet high, has a steep board roof, a north window, 

 never shut in summer, with 8 or 12-inch upright studding 

 inside ; inside horizontal boarding, and filled between these 

 two boardings with sawdust pounded down. The floor is made 



