CYCADS. 



251 



fertilised. He believed, however, that a hybrid had been raised 

 in the Botanic Gardens at Amsterdam. The cones sometimes" 

 change to a rich brown colour, and as the scales open, the bright 

 red ovules within can be seen, and they form a very pretty sight. 



FRUIT-TREES IN POTS. 



By the Rev. W. Wilks, M.A., Sec. R.H.S. 



[Bead November 1, 1892.] 



My lot having been cast in a garden absolutely destitute of 

 walls, but blessed with such magnificent Holly hedges that it 

 would be an actual sin to cut them down to make way for walls, 

 a problem very soon presented itself, viz. How best, and at least 

 cost, to grow Peaches, Nectarines, and late Pears ? — and to these 

 I may now add, some of the better Plums and Apricots. 



As this is to be a thoroughly practical paper, I will first state 

 what my exact aim was, and then go on to relate how I pro- 

 ceeded to carry it out, and the measure of success attained. And 

 as I am writing only for the information of beginners like my- 

 self, I hope professional growers will kindly correct but not 

 unkindly criticise my errors. 



Having but a small household to cater for, my object was not 

 to obtain a large supply of fruit at any one particular time of the 

 year, but to be sure of having a little always, or during as many 

 months as possible. I therefore at once gave up the idea of what 

 is ordinarily known as a " Peach-house," where two or three trees 

 at most are planted out in the border, and from which, as far as 

 my information goes, you may by good cultivation obtain an im- 

 mense quantity of large and excellent fruit, but for the most 

 part confined to a single fortnight or three weeks in the year. 

 I therefore determined to adopt some variety (for there are many) 

 of the orchard-house system introduced years ago by Mr. Rivers, 

 whose name is (or should be) as a household word to all growers 

 and consumers of Peaches, Nectarines, Plums, and Pears. 



And the first step I took was to pay a visit to Mr. Rivers at 

 Sawbridgeworth, and also to Mr. Bunyard at Maidstone, who has 

 adopted a modification of Mr. Rivers' system. I will not stop to 



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