260 



FLORA AND SYLVA, 



THE BEST VARIETIES OF THE 

 JAPAN QUINCE [Cydonia japonicd). 



Absolutely hardy and indifferent as to soil, the 

 Japan Pyrus succeeds everywhere, whatever 

 preference it shows being for a sunny spot. It 

 forms in a short time spreading tufts of 3 to 

 4 feet in height, and in early spring is com- 

 pletely covered with flowers which vary from 

 the purest white to the deepest crimson. The 

 garden varieties of this beautiful plant are so 

 little known that the following list of the sorts 

 best in growth and colour may not be out of 

 place. Alba grandiflora, a variety obtained in j 

 the Botanic Gardens of Paris, and the purest of 

 the white-flowered kinds ; candidissima, large 

 flowers, lightly shaded with rose ; Moerlosii, \ 

 vigorous and free, with pale pink blossoms ; 

 Mallardii, rosy flowers tinged with white at the 

 margin ; cardinalis, large flowers of a bright 

 scarlet ; atrococcinea, free in its orange-scarlet 

 flowers ; rubra grandiflora , flowers of a rich crim- 

 son ; Simoni, a recent gain, bearing large semi- 

 double flowers of a dark crimson scarlet which 

 is fine and distinct ; and Gaujardi,with flowers 

 of an uncommon salmon-red colour. Apart 

 from these, there are other kinds not without 

 merit, amongst which are umbilicata, of very 

 strong growth, rapidly spreading into great 

 tufts, and bearing fine rosy flowers ; and Colum- 

 bia, remarkable for its large fruits, reaching as 

 much as 8 to 10 inches round, and good for 

 preserve. 



They may be grown from seed, grafts, root- 

 cuttings, or layers. Seed is little usedexcept for 

 raising new varieties. Grafting is not satisfac- 

 tory, for the plants throw many suckers and the 

 graft is short-lived. The best plants are grown 

 on their own roots, and for this plan layers are 

 preferable. At any time during winter selected 

 branches are either slit with a knife, or partially 

 strangled with a tight wire, and the wounded 

 stem covered with soil for part of its length ; 

 without further care, by the following autumn 

 sufficient root will have formed to enable the 

 young plant to live alone. It is well in this way 

 to replace grafted plants by layers on their own 

 roots. Root-cuttings are only recommended 

 where a quantity of young plants are needed. 

 They should be taken in early spring from a 

 plant known to be on its own roots, and which 

 is cut back in proportion to the amount of root 1 



removed. Sections are then made of the larger 

 roots about an inch long, which are set in pans 

 of light soil in a cold frame, and watered regu- 

 larly. In a short time signs of growth are seen, 

 and with ordinary care, two or three years in 

 the nursery will ensure vigorous young plants 

 for the garden. Once upon their own roots the 

 tendency of the Pyrus to throw suckers need 

 not be checked ; indeed, the most beautiful 

 bushes are those allowed to spread in their own 

 way. 



The writer of this note, M. Viviand Mo- 

 rel (Lyon horticole), classes Maule's Quince 

 [Pyrus Maulei) among the forms of japonica, 

 but, since it is held as a distinct species at Kew, 

 we follow their arrangement, though as closely 

 allied to the Japanese Quince it is not out of 

 place in this connection. It is less robust and 

 smaller in all its parts, bearing flowers of a 

 bright orange succeeded by small apple-like 

 fruits, which in Japan are made into preserve. 

 A fine variety, atrosanguinea, bears large flowers 

 of a glowing crimson colour. 



Degrading a Beautiful Art. — A London 

 morning paper, the Daily Express, publishes 

 the most hideous group of illustrations of 

 " tree-carvings at Elvaston Castle." All who 

 care for true and natural form will regret this 

 prostitution of the name of Art. We read in 

 the paper the following as regards the " artistes " 

 who favour us with these monstrosities. The 

 italics are ours : — 



" Recently there has been a revival in topiary, 

 owing to the desire on the part of American million- 

 aires to purchase clipped trees and transport them to 

 the States regardless of cost, in order to give their 

 gardens the appearance of antiquity. Clipped trees 

 demand constant attention. If left alone for a week 

 they begin to look ragged, and in a month they would 

 be almost ruined. Only a highly-skilled man can do 

 this work, as an incompetent tree-sculptor can utterly 

 ruin a magnificent sun-dial or peacock with a few 

 clips of his shears. A tree-sculptor cannot make mis- 

 takes. He must be absolutely sure of each stroke. 

 For this reason it is said that such an 'artist' is born 

 and not made, for he cannot acquire proficiency 

 through practice on trees of this kind. The effect, 

 however, is well worth the trouble taken. No one 

 who has seen the wonderful gardens at Elvaston 

 Castle will ever forget the sight. Some of the designs 

 are almost startling, and all of them are remarkably 

 true to life. At Elvaston several tree-artists are kept 

 constantly employed at clipping, and the remunera- 

 tion earned by these men is very high." 



