JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ January SI, 1884. 
star-like, eight or nine, closely set, a quarter of an inch long, white tipped 
with brown; flowers freely produced, about an inch in diameter, and 
purplish violet in colour. 
M. simplex, Ilaxcorth .—This species is chiefly interesting in an historical 
point of view, for it was the first one introduced to Europe. It is mentioned 
by several of the old writers, and among them by Bradley in his curious work 
on “Succulent Plants” (1716). Bay states that it was grown by Bishop 
Compton at Fulham, and was also grown at Hampton Court in 1690. 
Linnaeus described it under the name Cactus Mammillaris, and states with 
truth that it is covered with bearded papillae like the Mesembryanthemum, 
has a milky juice like the Euphorbias, and the fructification of the Cactus, 
remarks which would apply to many other members of the genus. With 
M. simplex, M. discolor, and a supposed variety of the former named prolifera, 
which is now referred to M. flavescens D.C., Haworth founded the genus 
Mammillaria, which has since been adopted by nearly all writers, though the 
number of species has increased a hundredfold since his time. It is a native 
of tropical America. Stem simple, globular, 4 to 6 inches high ; tubercles 
conical, small, crowned with a white down and two series of spines, the outer 
about twelve, white, the inner four to six, strong and reddish in colour ; 
flowers small, greenish white. 
M. STELLA-AURATA, Martius .— “Golden Star” is a euphonious 
and appropriate name for one of the most attractive of the genus, 
and one that is a great favourite with all who are familiar with 
these plants. When in good condition the whole plant is covered 
with star-like rosettes of yellow spines, which impart a very distinct 
appearance to it, especially when in contrast with the white-spined forms. 
It is regarded as identical with M. tenuis of Decandolle. Introduced in 1835. 
Stem 2 inches high, half an inch in diameter, freely branched and dwarf; 
tubercles short and green ; spines in a flat spreading star-like rosette, very 
numerous, one-eighth to one-quarter of an inch long, yellowish tipped with 
reddish brown. Flowers small and white. 
M. Wildiana, Otto .—A charming species introduced from Mexico to 
France in 1835 ; but it did not make its appearance in English gardens until 
some years later, and even now it is not very generally known. It is one of 
the most select, and should be included in the smallest collections. A crested 
variety has been obtained and deserves the notice of those who admire these 
abnormal forms. Generally very dwarf, 3 to 4 inches high, but occasionally 
taller and more cylindrical, closely surrounded by offsets which are freely 
produced. Tubercles conical, dull dark green ; spines in two series, the outer 
very fine, white, and closely spreading, the others much fewer and larger, 
yellowish, and hooked at the apex ; flowers rose-coloured, borne at different 
periods of the year and rather frequently. 
The species named in this list include some of the best of those 
cultivated in England, the descriptions (except where otherwise stated) 
being taken from plants in the Kew collection, which have been 
examined and determined by the very careful botanist, Mr. N. E. Brown, 
of the Kew Herbarium.— Lewis Castle. 
(To be continued.) 
PEACHES AT WILTON. 
I am much interested in the experiment in Peach culture at Wilton, 
described by Mr. Wright at page 27. It is a great satisfaction to hear 
of such a shrewd sensible man as Mr. Challis stepping out of the common 
rut, and his experiments themselves show that they are not of the hap¬ 
hazard description, but based upon reflection and intelligence. I purpose 
availing myself of the usual freemasonry privilege of the craft and 
calling at Wilton the first opportunity I have, and I shall be even more 
pleased to see Mr. Challis here at any time he may have the oppoi'tunity of 
calling. There are two or three points connected with his Peach trees 
I should be glad to have cleared up. They are trained, I understand, on 
“the extension system pure and simple,” as Mr. Iggulden once described 
them, and as I gather from Mr. Wright’s account now; and so far as it 
goes the system is found to answer, as I have no doubt it will anywhere. 
But the question which arises in my mind is this: Now that the Wilton 
trees have already filled the narrow cross trellises allotted to them (about 
7 feet wide between the path and the front wall, and a little wider above 
the level of the doorway, according to the scale furnished in fig. 5, 
page 28), how does Mr. Challis propose extending them on the exten¬ 
sion principle on which he began, or what Mr. Wright truly calls “ the 
generous system of culture ? ” His trees have already reached the end 
of their tether, but the limbs cannot have nearly attained to their full or 
natural development on a trellis which only permits of a few feet of 
growth each way ; and after this period, unless severe and frequent root- 
pruning is resorted to, the old plan of hewing back the limbs must be 
adopted— i.e., the restrictive system “ pure and simple.” The experiment 
is only in its infancy, and it was exactly such experience as he has yet 
to come through with his present trees that led me to give my trees so 
much room. I have at the present time one young Nectarine tree, five 
years old, that is exactly 26 feet wide to the extremities of the branches 
on a level line across the base of the tree about 1 foot from the ground; 
and on another older tree the branches on each side are about 18 feet 
and 20 feet long, and these have had to be shortened back and the trees 
root-pruned more than once to restrain over-luxuriance. What will Mr. 
Challis do with all this growth in the case of his trees when he has had 
them as long as I have had mine ? I can see nothing for it but cutting 
off the whole of his annual growth that extends beyond the outer edge 
of his trellis already covered, and depending on back breaks to keep 
the trees furnished, and this will be restriction in its severest form.— 
J. Simpson, Worthy, Sheffield. 
Orchards and Paraffin. —In reply to “ T. W.” (page 44) I wish 
to state that the mixture of colza oil and paraffin, to which a little soot 
and sulphur was added, as described on page 526 last volume, proved 
quite effectual, and did no harm whatever to the trees to which it was 
applied. Peaches, Pears, and Plums were painted over young and old 
wood. If it is carefully mixed and used it will not do any barm. I 
put in the saving clause to prevent its being roughly made and applied. 
It is my practice to test everything carefully before using it exten¬ 
sively. I have this week tested it on different plants, and even on a 
spray of far-adVanced Peach blooms, and see nothing wrong. I will 
forward a little as I mix it, carriage paid, to your correspondent for him 
to test and report thereon in your widely read Journal if he will send 
me his address through the Editor.— A Foreman. 
SPECIAL SOCIETIES. 
Your correspondents “ Border Flower ” and “ X.” do not really seem 
to write for information. Their object is apparent to the most obtuse 
understanding. I cannot tell “ X.” how to exhibit fourth and fifth-rate 
flowers so that they may obtain first prizes. If any correspondents will 
write to me I will gladly lay any propositions for improvement before 
the Committee, or if they can tell me of any schedules that are more 
liberally arranged for all classes of exhibitors I shall be glad. Further, 
everybody can exhibit and take prizes, whether they subscribe or not. 
I again repeat that the question of national utility need not be intro¬ 
duced. The subscribers are, I presume, satisfied—at least I hear no com¬ 
plaint. The societies can lay claim to the title of “ National ” as much 
as any society of the same kind ever could. I speak in the past tense, 
for the National Bose Society has de'cided to restrict the competition for 
its prizes to subscribers only ; it must therefore drop the title of 
“ National.” 
“ Border Flower ” seems able to give much more important informa¬ 
tion than I can. He publicly states at page 61 that one reason why 
growers encourage the shows is that they want to sell their seeds. Now 
I publicly request of him to give the names of growers who do this. I 
want to know the names of the growers who have seeds to sell. Per¬ 
sonally I do not know a single grower who has an “ eye to business ” 
of the kind mentioned by “ Border Flower.” If dealers in such things 
did have an eye to business, what is there in it to find fault with ?— 
J. Douglas. 
Mr. Douglas had no right to drag in the name of my late friend 
Mr. Woodhead into this controversy. I had too great a respect for him 
to have ever accused him of taking an unfair advantage. I had not the 
remotest idea of alluding to him, but to an exhibitor still living. Feeling 
that such a statement would give pain to both his friend Mr. Rudd and 
his worthy sister Miss Woodhead, I wrote privately immediately on 
receipt of the Journal to the former, contradicting Mr. Douglas’s state¬ 
ment.—D., Deal. 
SYRINGING. 
Water as employed in syringing acts in two ways; first, 
by inducing growth, and secondly in refreshing or cleansing. 
In the first case it prevents evaporation, and that means growth, 
for when a plant is not parting with its juices it is increasing, 
as the roots keep on absorbing, and it is this fulness that 
results in growth. Thus we syringe Yines, Peaches, and other 
fruit trees when they are being started into growth, and we also 
syringe plants that have rested and which we wish to start into 
growth. It is held, and no doubt justifiably, that this air 
moisture is of gi’eater importance than moisture at the roots, 
especially in the case of plants that are known to not put forth 
roots m advance of or simultaneously with the growth. Syringing, 
or a moist atmosphere, is of more consequence in effecting a 
good break than water at the roots, simply because the moisture 
prevents evaporation, causes the filling of the sap vessels beyond 
repletion, and the buds burst. It is living on itself on the 
stored-up food or cambium, which only needs moisture with 
the needful heat to call it into activity. 
Moisture tends to expand the contracted sap vessels and 
increases the flow of fluid, restoring the waste consequent on 
the resting process, for it must not be supposed because the 
plants are kept dry and cool that they are entirely inactive, as 
evaporation is going on more or less constantly. Those that 
have much young wood will be affected* the sooner, as the 
evaporation is more powerful from young than old wood. Peach 
trees, for instance, kept dry at the roots will cast their buds, 
whilst the Yine is not affected, though kept very much drier 
than the Peach trees. We also syringe plants and maintain a 
moist atmosphere after repotting to check evaporation and thus 
keep the plant from suffering exhaustion; therefore we may 
conclude that whatever promotes evaporation checks growth, but 
the structure of the plant is thereby solidified and rendered 
healthful and fruitful. When growth is wanted, the more 
uniformly moist the atmosphere the more regular and constant 
will be the growth; but if we keep a plant constantly dripping 
with moisture it will not be long ere it becomes unhealthy, 
hence our best practitioners are averse to morning syringings in 
the cultivation of plants, prefering to damp the house well, and 
- thus keep the atmosphere so charged with moisture as to prevent 
