300 



THE 



GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



May 



7. 1898. 



a sowing of Matchless, James's, or Intermediate may now be put in, deferring 

 the main sowing for another week or so. During the dry weather keep the hoe 

 at work amongst such crops as onions, parsnips, carrots and other small plants, 

 for if the weeds are allowed to grow they will soon spoil the most nourishing of 

 these. Do njt neglect to make frequent small sowings of radishes, lettuce, 

 mustard and cress, and other salads. A cool shady place should be found for 

 those used in a small state, as the foliage will be more tender than when grown in 

 the sun.— II. C. Prinskp, Buxted Park Gardens. 



HARDY FRUITS. 



In the southern parts of the country I fear the peach and nectarine crop has 

 suffered greatly from the severe weather experienced at the end of March. Many 

 of our trees were in bloom, and some have not a single fruit, no matter what 

 protection they .had. Our friends in the north will have escaped, and I am 

 pleased to remark some of the late flowering kinds have set well. This shows the 

 advantage of having different positions and varieties, as if one lot suffers the 

 others may be saved. I once had some excellent crops of peaches from an ea«t 

 wall when those on the south were quite barren. Apricots appear to have 

 suffered less than peaches, doubtless owing to the fruits being set before the severe 

 weather set in. The recent rains have been specially welcome, for fruit trees 

 under wide copings are very dry at the roots. Thinning of apricots will need 

 attention, as it can now be seen what fruits are taking the lead, and it will be 

 safe to remove many of those thickly placed and to reduce the wood growths such 

 as foreright shoots and those not needed for extension. Cherries are blooming 

 very freely, and in our case small birds have been more active than 

 usual in the destruction of buds, and netting became a necessity, 

 Black fly is one of the worst pests we have to deal with in our light soil, and the 

 fruit-grower's task is not an easy one ; but wherever it appears active measures 

 must be taken, as it soon destroys much foliage. Dusting with tobacco powder 

 is effectual in mild cases ; in others it may be advisable to syringe with tobacco- 

 water or quassia. Newly-planted trees should now be carefully trained, it being 

 important to have the principal leaders in position, and in the case of stone fruits 

 much may he done by pinching shoots not required for extension in preference to 

 using the knife the first season. With drying winds, mulching must not be over- 

 looked, and a thorough watering afterwards will keep the roots active. Now is 

 a good time to reduce the shoots at the stools of raspberries — I mean summer- 

 fruiters ; if all are left, they are so numerous they crowd those needed for next 

 > car's canes. I prefer to pull them out with the hand, as if merely hoed they 

 soon reappear. Pear and apple trees are this season showing a wealth of bloom. 

 I fear some of the earliest pear blossoms have been injured, but it is too early to 

 speak definitely. Plums are equally good, and other fruits appear to be making 

 up for last year's deficiency, 



Strawt>crries will now need early attention, as on south borders the flower 

 trusses will l>e showing freely, and I would advise mulching before the flowers 

 expand. There are several ways as regard? mulching, and I have tried most of 

 them, but have been obliged to revert hack to the old but effectual one of using 

 litter from the stables. I am aware litter in a fresh state with ripe strawberries is 

 «.l>,ectiona!>le, hut placed in position now, that is, a month or six weeks before the 

 funis ripen, it becomes miite clean by exposure to the rains, and sweet. Grass 

 from lawn* is at times advised. I do not know of anything worse, as in a wet 

 season it is infested with slugs and worms, and adheres to the fruit. Clean long 

 straw is not the best protection, as it lays so close to the soil it soon decays, whereas 

 lit in k more elastic, and dries sooner. I have seen many crop* injured by leaving 

 the mulching till too late, as one heavy storm will cover the fruit with grit, and 

 another point worth noticing is that strawy litter placed in position now may be 

 made good use of should severe frosts follow, as it is a simple matter to shake the 

 litter lightly between the blooms. Last May was one of the worst seasons on 

 record, as frosts destroyed so many of the first blossom, causing severe losses. It 

 U > wel to be prepared for emergencies. Those who have dry bracken may with 

 advantage use this for protecting, but it is not plentiful near towns, and is not of 

 much value, unless cut in the early autumn and dried. It will well repay the cul- 

 tnatur who hasa few rows of early strawberries on a south border to protect with 

 .^gl^^y" flights, as by so doing fruits may be secured ten days or 



faf^ ^*^ ° f ?T n0t Pr0tected ' and there is alwa y s a bri *k demand 

 ShLdSSTL teSF" the * cason ^med, as forced strawberries are not plen- 



bem 1 JS? "IBS ° Ver ' ThCr f ? ould be n ° dc,a * in hoein e through straw- 

 £2^5™^ mulch ; indeed, I prefer to do the work several 



mts, as there is less trouble with weeds during the fruiting season. Sprine- 



CiJII II * ^J*^ of Sower spikes^f at aU w3T I 



T 



Victor 



and 



Paradise Nurserifq 



These old-established nurseries, situated at the foot of H' h - 

 repay a visit, as besides the usual large stock of ordinary nurs^ ^ a ' Wayi 

 several classes of plants that are made a speciality of and Vt 

 seen. Messrs. B. S. Williams and Son have a: ° , S not Comr nonly 



■cUoa Road, .„d the « 



W W • • * — - ^m^^^r — -w w — - 



upon the Junction 



conseq 



breezy slopes of Finchley, where they have taken a nice little , hment 0I > the 



acres. At this branch they will have more room for cultivati™ ? , fourtee « 



as are technically known 9 « ««?« rf 



wherewith to meet the increasing demand that comes through tEI? a ? ^ Iants " 

 on Piccadilly. Here also hardy plants can be readily Zf D ^ fl °" st 5 

 and stove plants that do better under a stronger light thai ? A UmSl nT** 

 will find a place. upper iiolloway 



Palms are extensively cultivated at Victoria and Paradise N 

 can here be suited with either a tiny seedling or a finp ™ rs . enes > and one 



twenty feet H* The .large house' near tlS^tSjSS^^ 

 examples of Kentia Forstenana and K. Belmoreana, Areca Sri jw 

 borbonica, Rhapis humilis, and a number of splendidly furnished a n^f * 

 examples of the ever-popular and elegant Cocos Wedelliana. Of the \*h~J!T 

 two first-mentioned palms there are large stocks in all staees of di Jdn 

 while of others such as Geonoma gracilis, Cocos plumosusfKnit SB 

 and P rechnata there arc numerous neat specimens. Bamboos for X 

 decoration arc not by any means forgotten, as every day finds these beS 

 Japanese plants becoming more and more popular ; three especially usSoS 

 well represented here are those known commercially as B. aurea, B. gracilis ^!nd 

 B. Maximowiczi vanegata. Stove plants occupy a good number of W 

 Anthunums, both Andreanum and Schezerianum varieties and 

 are freely grown, and show that the Holloway firm is perfectly well acquit 

 with the variations of the wind of fashion. Of aralias such as A. gracillima A 

 Veitchi, A. elegantissima, and A. Chabrieri, the Messrs. Williams always have 

 batches in the best of health and in all stages of development, from the newlv 

 grafted or rooted plants up to the perfect specimen. Dracsnas in all leading 

 sorts, and crotons in great variety, are now colouring freely ; the anthuriums 

 notable for their handsome foliage, such as A. Veitchi and A.Warocqueana need 

 special mention, as they are thrifty plants capable of making grand examples for 

 larce houses. This firm has long enjoyed a special reputation for ixoras, and do 



large houses. — — . ™^ a. apc^iai icpuiauon ior ixoras, ana dc 



not appear likely to lose it, judging from the stocky plants of I Duffi, I 

 Wilhamsi, L Fraseri, L coccinea, L Prince of Orange, &c. It is useless to 

 further enumerate the stove plants here to be found, but several somewhat rare 



ailH«#»r*te frViaf a f frir>f«rl ntfanfi'^n A,^^ „ 1 i. . r -i . ■ m •« 



— plants hcic lu l»c iuuiiu, uui several somewnat rare 

 subjects that attracted attention from among a host of others were Gomphb 

 decorans, with trusses of golden flowers ; Franciscias, now too seldom seen, and 

 resplendent in shades of blue ; Carludovica plicata, a palm-like plant ; Cyan* 

 phyllum magnificum, Dracana Doucetti, and the elegant D. Godseffiana, Ficus 

 Cooperi, a handsome plant ; and Artocarpus Cannoni. 



Begonias, both winter-flowering and Refc forms occupy considerable space, and 

 have to be freely propagated to meet the growing demand ; Gloire de Lorraine 

 and Gloire de Sceaux are now flowering. Among the foliage kinds Messrs. B. S. 

 Williams and Son have some good new varieties, such as Ville de Paris, dear 

 silver with green veins ; Tananarive, creamy silver with green mottlings ; Tama 

 tave, also silver and green, but very distinct in the markings ; Chicago, brad 

 handsome foliage, broadly lobed margins, green centre surrounded by silver tad 

 with green spottings toward the margin ; and an unnamed seedling with deep 



* u »-» I ■ mL. _ » A . it m ' a mm m mm ■ « • 



ne 



pi 



All the 

 sarraceniai, 

 ; and smart 



appearance, 

 flowered well 



The amaryllis are seeding freely, and consequently must have 

 — ttwx; the clivias are almost over, but a few remain to indicate the fine 

 strain to be found at Holloway, a strain remarkable for large trusses, substantial 

 flowers, and high colour. The cannas are a first-rate stock, and include m 



Crozv and T^mnin^ vorlofioe nron,i nou; Tfolion enrk. the l>est Kncli^- 



CarnatioQI 



Lemoine varieties, the grand new Italian sorts, the best ha 



seedlings, and several fine American sorts ; among **** a ^ warf scarld 



r amed Fairman R oge _^ I o 



specially clean stocks of thrifty plants, and there is a big demand for such «»• 

 ties as Souvenir dela Malmaison, Princess May, Churchwarden, Queen oHeUon 

 Tames Mushlark (marooni. DuItp nf FiTp. Duchess of Fife. Uriah Tike, and }om 



^^IXM 1 ^ seed 1 ITbc^ ^ISf cS^S q i?^2jlj5 th Z - Cr ° P V Alpine va ™gated'Poa argentea (fine Tor "edging), and the variegated form 

 boxes some time a™ w™U^ if pricked off into frames or umbe Iatus were other cool house subjects deserving of special 



... r" 1 soon m Condition to plant out in we -nrpnarprl lor^ nm H nrr Km P f rt «U .f.L. i J • » 



Alpine 

 es or 



,w *«ouuvciiir aeia Malmaison, Fnncess May, ^nurenwaraen, v uccn Vl ; ixZ 

 ames Mushlark (maroon), Duke of Fife, Duchess of Fife, Uriah Pike, and jobb 

 >eter Rugus, a fine red variety. Abutilons, humeas, genetylhs, the prrtnv 



aripantPrl P^o t . _j_;__x j ^„ . '^t^ fnrm nf AgtpaDtW 



Late 



togjj 



longer 



mulu'tode* 



i-ast year's p ants will need lil^ral «„ nn i;^ . ' r V T rr u /. umunuus ' vt a H^« ^ wuontogiossum crispum, U. tnumpnans com\nuuu& y 



removed, to give the yJJne Si JXfiS £ ' ^ 5? w PluS gr ° Wths 5? m , e formS ; °- <^hosum, O. Ruckerianum, O. excellens O. 

 (nu un.. k ) Ung trUltlng S^vvths more space. Wythes, Syon O. luteo-purpureum, O. I^i, O. Andersonianum, &c, all on healthy ph^J 



carrying fine flowers. Hanging in a warm house are goodly baskets o \\**^ 



Lehmanni, P. Roezli rosea, P. Ktabochorum, P. Pantini, and BoIl« cic 

 Phalcenopsis Schilleriana ™A v,n^ tw* are either flowering or promising , 



Gari?enkks' £M elts r ? cent u exc t ,lent artic,e ^ -Onions" in the 



farther < >n he ncj « t^^v" 1 ' 11 Sf* the autumn ' Sown never kee P well, and 



the connection ^ c W *°™ meaSUre ° f fevour " To m y mind » 



grown, I would nr.r;" ": ?f' 11 1 w ^ d onions to ke ^P ^d be of service after 



have ^cfuUy g^JSSJS \ their texture " of the coarsest, and after you 

 There are JeKue J '^SSH CI ° P y ° U . may ^^i" thr ° win g them a way. 



and Mr. BecktU WSfL^AS** 0 sow,n g 5 one that 1 am ™*J Partial to, 

 delude &, and ^ ^™ • Teb0IiS ' Whatever 1 "» * autumn I al way 



^ y«u round. ^ to B S£2LT B "° W haVC ^ Whh ° Ut ° ni0ns ^ 



too rouch. If onin09 art J "V^y g^wers, in my opinion, thin the crop 



™*ned ; this is nest effectedh^ L - P ' L they must have sma11 "ecksand be well 

 other before full grown 8 T g them thick, y in rows . even pushing each 



"jpply of the bSSi hose C of al a WayS , en ° Ugh ,arge ° nCS ' and fo ' the ^ 

 W " M " teiure Z fljJ ^ .^^e s 12 e are most acceptabl e b For 



f my it veS I e r n0t f ° Und ^y t0 beat the Im P'°ved 



-j _ , ~ .vn auus mac we notea in tne s>c\ 



were C. Morganfoe, C. Mastersi. C. Io 



Measuresianam, 

 rhamberlairuii 



Lebaudian 

 well. Dei 



Yandas nrf 



Readi 



The bulk of my last 

 he l.berty to enclose 



Uendrobiums and thunias, pleiones and lycastes are » e» » 



as are a splendid sight, for not only are the s P ecimenS n C Swoom, 

 the pots with stout foliage, but large numbers are now ffl full bloom^ ^ 



' l"S°} 0t t ad V ' suavis f o™s, so that the senses of sight and ^ 

 gratified; the vanda house at Holloway is a revelation to many ^ 

 Miltoniasand cymbidiums are freely flowered, and the v^iesare^ ^ 

 Mendeh is very fine, as the firm has a selection of beautiful ^ ^pn 



. ^ to back up whaTl Tre T b ° nS from "^5^ 



J* pnman y with onfonTfo e^hf,*""^ x 1 am aware the articIe « question 



Williams 



thum, 



uut nanasome unciaium w»wy; -^ DtrU m, 

 ^ Odontoglossum Harryanum, O. polyxanthum, u. r 

 suavis and the pretty, late- flowering Calanthc Sandcnanau yi< 

 Altogether there is much to interest and instruct t™™^, for 

 raracuse JNurseries. as many Hanover during trie P IG:sC \. ^ 



^mi 



fclti 7 , "ursery visiti 



the time of the Temple Show. 



