FEBETJAEY. 



28 



stood little more than bare poles, very unlike anything from which a luscious crop of fruit 

 would ever he gathered ; but this did not last long. Soon they began to burst vigorously, 

 shoots more than enough and to spare. .Before the following November they had to get two 

 nailings, and fine ripened shoots of from 4 to 5 feet sufficiently attested the renovation which 

 had been effected. Now, I think this will show that there is much in M. Robert's plan 

 worth attention. If the inner bark be not removed, and there is no reason why it shoidd be, 

 the physiological objections of " Phi" fall to the ground ; and, even where it is removed by 

 accident, any person of experience knows that a very short time suffices for its restoration — a 

 short privation which assuredly will not cause the death of the patient. Without at all 

 denying the efficacy of the remedies which your correspondent recommends, I would at the 

 same time say, that our fathers managed many things in a manner which, perhaps, we rather 

 hastily condemn. That the attack of insects are rather the consequences than the causes of 

 disease in trees I fully agree with " Phi," but surely if they can only exist on diseased 

 timber, or trees of diaiinished vital energy, anything calculated to restore this energy or 

 vigour — as decortication I submit is— evidently tends to the prevention of such attacks. 

 Any intelligent gardener knows that the remedy should not Stop with merely stripping the 

 bark; drainage, soil, and the other et-ceteras should be also attended to. But occasionally 

 trees will be met with so far gone in disease as to defy ordinary remedies, and to these my 

 remarks more especially refer. 



P. Castles. 



FRUIT- JUDGING AT KENSINGTON. 



In the J anuary Number of the Florist and Pomologist, page 6, Mr. Lumsden calls 

 my attention to a paragraph in your correspondent's report of the " Great International 

 Show of Fruits, &c," on October the 8th, 9th, and 10th. Mr. Lumsden is quite right in 

 doing so, as the statement to which he alludes is quite incorrect. If he will refer to the 

 Gardeners' Chronicle, No. 42, page 982, to an article of mine, in which I there state that 

 " the first prize in Class M was awarded to a collection in which two of the dishes contained 

 eight fruits." Tour reporter has misunderstood my observations on these collections, as the 

 reference I have given will show. On the first day of the Exhibition I made some remarks 

 on Mr. Lumsden' s collection of three dishes of Pears, not that they were wrong in number, 

 but that there were several of his fruits apparently unsound. One fruit of Beurre Bosc had 

 a piece out of the side, and two fruit of Gansel's Bergamot had large black blotches or 

 bruises, which imperfections, no doubt, were observable to others as well as myself. 



Stoke Park. A. Botjsie, Gardener to Lord Taunton. 



KEW GARDENS. 



In looking over " J. McP.'s" notes of his visit to Kew G-ardens, I find he has omitted 

 to mention a Begonia (among the others), which I saw there on September 13. I refer 

 to Begonia The O'Donaghue. It is a variety really worthy of being in any collection ; it has 

 the silvery belt of Rex, with a number of round silvery spots of the size of a small wafer ; 

 and from the size and roundness of the spots it looks extremely pretty. 



I must also add a word in praise of the appearance of the Cissus discolor in the 

 Victoria-house, and of the tasteful manner it is trained. 



" J. McP." speaks of the well-grown specimens of Fuchsias there. I do not find fault 

 with the growth; but if the gardeners have the ability to grow a Fuchsia well, why not 

 exercise it on some really good sorts ; for with the exception of Fuchsia Comet (a really fine 

 flower), the sorts grown there were only very old varieties, the best being Corallina, now only 

 used for out-of-door use. 



The masses of Perilla nankinensis made a very rich show, being surrounded by beds of 

 brighter colours. The manner in which the gardens are kept gives great credit to those in 

 charge. 



Provincial. 



CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS. 



Conservatory. 

 This house should now be very gay. Fortunately 

 this can he easily done from the great number of 

 plants, which, with ordinary means and ttie exercise 

 of a little forethought, can be had in flower at this 



season. The forcing-pit will furnish Rhododendrons, 

 Kalmias, and other American plants and bulbs of 

 different kinds. Remove all plants as soon as they 

 begin to look the least faded or unsightly. Introduce 

 fresh flowers daily. Attend well to the watering. 



