February 5, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
107 
standard trees on the Crab. May it not be that we pull our early 
Apples for storing a little too soon, being hurried to action by the few 
that fall 1 — Geo. Bunyard, Maidstone. 
GARDENIAS TREATED AS BIENNIALS. 
The variety originated in America, and was, we believe, introduced 
to England by Messrs. II. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, passing thence to 
the Continent. It will be welcomed by many as a novelty of great 
promise, and will probably soon become abundant in gardens. 
About this time last year I inserted a number of Gardenia 
cuttings in well-drained 6-inch pots filled with sandy peat and 
leaf mould with a surfacing of sand. These were then plunged 
to the rim in sawdust in a handlight placed over some slates 
resting on the flow pipes in the Gardenia pit, in which the 
cuttings soon rooted. The young plants were potted singly 
into small 60’s in soil similar to that in which they were rooted, 
and placed in heat as before until the roots had pushed well 
into the soil, after which they were shifted into 48’s. They were 
afterwards grown on shelves near the glass in forcing houses 
and pits, and carefully tended in supplying water at the roots 
and overhead. Subsequently about the end of July the plants, 
having nearly filled the 48-sized pots with roots, were trans¬ 
ferred into 6 inch pots; this time in three parts of fibry peat 
and one of loam, with sufficient sand added to render the com¬ 
post somewhat porous. The soil was pressed firm about the 
roots, and was thoroughly moist before being employed in the 
repotting. They were then placed on shelves and walls in 
forcing houses and pits - in fact in any place where 
they could have plenty of atmospheric moisture and 
heat. Water was given to settle the soil about the roots, 
and they were afterwards shaded from bright sun¬ 
shine until the roots had taken to the new soil, when it 
was discontinued, and weak liquid manure was given 
alternately with clear water until the plants had com¬ 
pleted their growth. 
About the middle of October they were placed in 
a cold pit from which frost was excluded by covering 
the sashes with mats and shutters, and in which they 
remained for about six weeks. They were subsequently 
taken into the Camellia house, where, with the excep¬ 
tion of forty or fifty plants which are now developing 
their pearly white and deliciously scented flower’s, they 
still remain in a temperature between 45° and 55 u . 
These plants were not stopped after they were trans¬ 
ferred from the 60-sized pots, so that some of them, 
especially those which were grown in a Cucumber 
house some distance from the glass and partly in the 
shade. They made rather long shoots, but owing to 
the rest accorded to the plants and the partial with¬ 
holding of moisture they have ripened and are now well 
set with flower buds. Some of the plants will be placed 
in our early Melon house early in February, where 
they will have plenty of heat and atmospheric moisture, 
and liberal supplies of tepid liquid manure alternately 
with Beeson’s manure at the rate of 3 lbs. to 10 gallons 
of Clearwater given to the roots. This will enable them 
to produce large well-developed blooms to supplement 
the supply of blooms which the pot plants in the stove 
and those planted out will yield. 
The successional supply of blooms will be afterwards 
maintained by putting into heat (in succession Melon 
and Cucumber houses) the remaining portion of plants 
in the Camellia house at short intervals, and then 
by the plants now coming into flower yielding a second 
crop. Thus, each successional batch of plants following in the 
same order with a second crop of flowers, the supply may be 
continued uninterruptedly throughout the next twelve months. 
It can then be supplemented by the produce of plants propa¬ 
gated now, and afterwards treated as indicated above, two-year- 
old plants being thrown on the fire heap.— H. W. Ward, Long¬ 
ford Castle. 
ABUTILON THQMPSONI FLORE-PLENO. 
The variegated Abutilou Thompsoni is well known in gardens as a 
useful free-growing plant, and is an especial favourite for sub-tropical 
beds and similar positions, while its flowers are attractive and brightly' 
coloured. The variety represented in fig. 18 (kindly lent by M. Bruant 
of Poitiers, Vienne, France, in whose catalogue it is published), is, how¬ 
ever, very distinct, the flowers being full and almost globular in form 
while preserving the other characters of the ordinary type. The outer 
petals are of the usual form, but the inner ones are smaller, narrower, 
and very closely packed, giving the flowers a remarkably distinct appear¬ 
ance. In colour they are pleasing, the principal tint being bright orange 
red, upon which is a delicate veining of crimson. 
GRAPE GROS MAROC. 
Is Gros Maroc worth growing ? This question has been put 
to me scores of times during the past three years. Both growers 
for the market and private gardeners seem alike anxious to give 
it a place in their late vineries, and this desire seems to be 
strengthened by the many glowing descriptions that have from 
time to time appeared in the Journal and its contemporaries. 
Professedly it was sent out as a late Grape, warranted to hang 
(I presume in sound condition) until March. But why it should 
have taken the late Mr. Rivers, with his keen perception and 
great knowledge of fruits, some thirty years to discover it to be 
one of our finest Grapes, is, I venture to say, one of the things 
“ no fellow can understand.” 
We received Gros Maroc some four or five years ago, and at 
once grafted it on to Gros Guillaume and West’s St. Peter’s. 
Upon both stocks it grew very fast, running out laterals 
as thick as a man’s finger. Its very large thick leathery leaves 
Fig. 18.—Abutilon Thomsoni ficre-plero. 
clearly show that to grow it successfully both ample room and 
light are necessary for the proper development of the foliage 
and ripening of the wood, otherwise it will soon prove to be a 
shy bearer. With us bunches are produced plentiful enough, 
and there is no difficulty in getting the berries to set well. It is 
marvellous how a small bunch when in bloom will develope itself 
when ripe. Some we had last year while in flower measured from 
4 to 5 inches, and when cut weighed from 5 lbs. to 5 lbs. 8 ozs„ 
the berries measuring 3) inches in circumference, covered with 
the densest of black purple bloom, which, like the Black Ham¬ 
burgh, it soon loses if exposed much to the sun, but if covered with 
a good canopy of leaves it is retained until the berries shrivel; 
this with us usually takes place in November. During the 
autumn months Gros Maroc is a noble-looking Grape, alike 
handsome in bunch and berry, but here the laudation must stop. 
There is no getting over the fact that the skin is tough and 
thick as leather; while when compared with the Black Hamburgh 
the flesh is anything but juicy or refreshing. 
Such is my experience of Gros Maroc; others who have sung 
its praises may have been more successful, and able to prove that 
it is as good both in flavour and keeping qualities as they assert 
it to be. If so, I would cordially invite them to send samples to 
you, Mr. Editor, as I feel sure with your usual courtesy you will 
