206 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ March 18, 1884. 
the better, unless it be found necessary to root-prune them, and this will not 
require to he done so frequently where the soil is kept firm around the 
trees as where it is regularly forked. We find here (Herefordshire) 
shallow planting the best means of preventing canker. This, combined 
with judicious root-pruning at the time of planting, will ward off canker 
for a great number of years. All roots tending downwards should be 
pruned very much harder than lateral ones. Each tree should be elevated 
in planting in such a manner that when the operation is completed they 
should stand on mounds a few inches above the level of the ground 
around them, and all the lateral roots should be spread out carefully as 
near the surface of the soil as possible. If the soil be of ordinary good 
quality no manure need be put in with it, as it is far better to apply it 
as a heavy top-dressing, which will have the effect of encouraging the 
roots to keep near the surface. After careful labelling with permanent 
labels, such as the Acme fruit tree label, and firmly staking each tree, 
keeping down weeds by hoeing and hand-weeding, nothing more will be 
found necessary until the time arrives for another top-dressing, which 
should be applied in February, or March at the latest. 
The soil of different localities appears to affect some varieties in a 
marked manner. For instance, we have Potts’ Seedling Apple worked 
here for a number of years, and all the trees are in the best of health, 
whilst some trees of this variety we recently procured from Lancashire 
are all more or less affected. Dumelow’s Seedling, or Wellington, succeeds 
here wonderfully well, and is very free from this dread disease, whilst 
I have noticed in some parts of Hertfordshire this same variety suffers 
most severely. Lord Suffield generally cankers as soon as the roots get 
down to the subsoil; on the other hand, Lord Gfrosvenor remains perfectly 
healthy. This latter variety bids fair to be extensively planted in prefer¬ 
ence to the former. Ecklinville Seedling is one of the most healthy and 
vigorous-growing varieties of Apple we have, rarely if ever showing any 
sign of. canker, and a most prodigious and constant cropping variety. 
Cellini is a great cropper, but as soon as it reaches the subsoil it cankers 
badly. Herefordshire Beefing is a vigorous grower, and is undoubtedly 
very free from canker; it will keep in good condition till June, and is a 
large and constant bearer. 
Would it not prove of great advantage to a large number of your 
readers, now that Apple tree planting is so much on the increase all over 
the country, if you could obtain from reliable sources lists for publication 
of varieties best suited to cultivate in various districts, and such as are 
least liable to canker ? Such information would be much appreciated by 
a number of readers of your valuable Journal.— H. R. Illman, Hereford. 
When reading the notes on this subject (page 168) by “ A Yorkshire 
Gardener ” and others (page 168) I was reminded of a few notes in an 
old diary of observations taken by me at different times and places, which 
I submit for your readers’ judgment should you think them of any service. 
When graduating in a certain garden in Lanarkshire I noticed that during 
my time no ground was dug near fruit trees. An alley, as we call it, was 
left 3 feet from the walls on which trained Peach, Pear, and Plum trees 
were. The garden soil was decidedly heavy, with a wet subsoil. Also 
near Derby the same rule was observed with regard to fruit trees, and 
canker in both cases was unknown. Here (Cavan) the case is altered, as 
we have not an Apple or Plum that is not affected with this disease. It 
cannot be from imperfect drainage, as the garden soil is like a river’s bed 
with pebbles resting on the rock (iron). Trees planted twelve years ago 
could be easily pulled up by the roots. I may say I have never seen a 
case of canker in old orchards that are laid out in grass. Has any other 
observer seen it there ?— Ritchie. 
HARDY PLANTS IN FLOWER. 
Sisyrinchium grandiflorum. —A charming spring-flowering 
plant, so delicate in appearance, yet so capable of holding its own 
against.driving rains and winds. One thing is certain, it dislikes a 
dry position, and has an equal aversion to light soils such as peat. 
The best plants I possess are in a damp position with rather heavy 
loamy soil, and I recently saw some in pots of very stiff soil, 
the drainage of which was nearly stopped, but the plants were ex¬ 
tremely healthy and flowering freely ; indeed it is one of the few 
hardy plants which do really well in pots, and that with limited 
room. Perhaps the prettiest sight I have seen this season was a 
clump of this plant mixed with its white-flowered variety. I planted 
them last year. The pieces of album were rather weak, but they 
flowered fairly well, and the charming contrast of the intermingled 
flowers was most pleasing. I find the white-flowered variety rather 
more delicate, and I think rather later in flowering, although the 
latter may be due to my plants being weak ; but certainly they were 
not quite so forward as those of the t\ pical form, yet were in sufficient 
time to associate with some of the latest purple flowers. All lovers 
of hardy flowers should secure both forms. A few good pots in a 
greenhouse, are very beautiful, as the flowers last well under glass and 
are quite distinct from most plants employed for that purpose. 
Snowdrops. —Since writing my last notes I have had the very 
great pleasure of examining some rare and beautiful forms of 
Galanthus nivalis, the most distinct of which were G. poculiformis 
and G. lutescens. The former is very peculiar. The three inner 
perianth divisions are nearly or quite as long as the other ones, and 
not arranged m a small cup like the usual form, but are sub-spreading 
and quite white throughout, entirely devoid of the green blotches and 
inside lining, also characteristics of the species, so we may consider 
it one of the most distinct of all the Snowdrops. The variety lutescens 
is really yellowish, as its name implies. The green blotches of the 
type are replaced by yellow ones, and the base of the inner divisions 
is yellow-tinted ; hence we have a decided if not a very desirable 
distinction from the rest The variation in G. Elwesii is very great. 
I have just had a bulb in flower with the outer divisions very narrow 
—not more than two lines broad, and sharply reflexed like those of 
Narcissus triandrus. The inner divisions were of the usual character. 
The flower presented a very queer appearance, but it is most inter¬ 
esting to note these differences, and in this case I shall take special 
care of the bulb. 
Leucoium vernum. —With regard to my remarks on this charming 
bulb on page 148, I am informed there was a variety^ called carpathi- 
cum which is thought to be lost to cultivation, and that the main 
distinguishing characteristics of this variety were a two-flowere I 
peduncle, and yellow spots upon the flowers instead of green. Now, 
in my notes I stated that the peduncles were from one to three- 
flowered, and these notes were made from a large bed where perhaps 
2000 bulbs were in flower. On looking over the same bed again I 
find the bulk of them are two-flowered, and only about three scapes 
with three flowers upon them, from which I shall if possible save 
seed. In my opinion there is no basis at all for the variety carpathi- 
cum, because I notice some of the bulbs producing two-flowered 
peduncles have side bulbs which only produce a solitary flower. 
Referring again to the colour of the spots as a distinctive mark, is 
again most misleading, as I notice every gradation from bright yellow 
to deep green and vice versa. I have seen it described as difficult to 
please—the opposite to this is my experience ; it certainly enjoys a 
rich light sandy soil, and does not like being disturbed, although if 
the bulbs are fully developed the fact of removing them from one 
place to another will not prevent their flowering, for in November 
last I removed over 1000 of such bulbs, and they have flowered 
grandly, and are now making excellent growth. In the autumn of 
1882 I received a large number of bulbs from the continent, which 
were so very small that up to this time they have not produced a 
flower, neither do I believe they would had they been kept undis¬ 
turbed. L. pulchellum is just opening its flowers, but I do not think 
them so pretty as those of L. vernum ; they are not so large, but 
more numerous, pure white with green spots ; a clump of it is very 
desirable so early in the year. 
Glory of the Snow (Ghionodoxa Lucilia:). —This is certainly 
one of the most charming spring-flowering bulbs. There is a white- 
flowered variety, but I do not think it an acquisition, nor perhaps so 
showy as the old Triteleia uniflora, now flowering freely. Many 
have expressed themselves disappointed at the “ Glory of the Snow,” 
but I thiuk this is mainly due to the fact of its infancy in our gardens. 
Wait until we have well-established clumps and then everybody will 
be pleased. Those bulbs which have been in the ground three years 
are very much stronger, they produce much finer spikes of flowers, 
and the individual flowers are larger. The bulk of the purchasers 
have been supplied with small imported bulbs up to the present, which 
are only capable of producing one or two flowers, and those bulbs 
may be freely mixed with Scilla bifolia and Galanthus Elwesii. In 
due time we shall have strong home-grown bulbs, and the results I 
feel sure will be more satisfactory. It seems quite hardy, but it likes 
a well-drained position in rich but light soil. I hive several bulbs 
pricked in crannies of the rockery, and these have some very fine 
spikes, and they look extremely pretty nestled against the stones ; 
indeed, it is a very fitting home for them, as they are quite capable of 
taking care of themselves if left undisturbed, and they bloom at a 
time when most occupants of the rockery are but just awaking from 
the sleep of winter ; and by the time that such are rampant in growth 
the Chionodoxa has passed to rest. 
Dondia Epipactis. —This is not a very attractive plant, but I am 
always delighted to see its curious little yellow heads peeped out just 
above the ground. It likes a damp position, hence the best tuft I 
have is at the foot of a damp rockery, where it is evidently very 
happy, and is now crowded with flower heads. 
Leontice altaica. —A very rare plant, closely allied to the Cory- 
dalises, and it might easily be mistaken for one. I am not sure that 
it is perfectly hardy in all parts of the country. I do not risk my 
plant outside, but give it the protection of a handlight, so that it is 
kept dry during the autumn and winter ; and it is planted in a well- 
drained position in light sandy soil. It produces freely divided 
glaucous leaves, and racemes of bright yellow flowers. It is a native 
of Siberia, and was introduced as early as 1818, but was evidently 
nearly lost to cultivation until Dr. E. Regel of the Imperial Botanic 
Gardens, St. Petersburgh, replenished the small stock in this country 
a few years since. It is flowering rather early this season, owing 
undoubtedly to the extreme mildness thereof, and the fact of its being 
covered with glass. It is not the plant for everybody to seek, but it 
