April 17 , 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
301 
catorei already noted was included in this sale, with many other rare 
or choice varieties. 
Pruning Dendrobiums. —Judging from the animated discussions 
which have taken place lately, the subject of pruning Dendrobiums 
is likely to become a favourite theme. The real question at issue is, 
“ Whether it is prejudicial or not to the health of the plants to remove 
old spent pseudo-bulbs annually.’' I have no hesitation in saying as 
the result of my experience that this removal is not prejudicial, but, 
on the contrary, is really beneficial. Of what possible use can old 
withered pseudo-bulbs be in either storing up sap or nourishing the 
young growths ? Surely if we reason by analogy it cannot be more 
injurious to Dendrobiums than to Hydrangeas or similar plants where 
the growths that have flowered are cut away to make room for the 
new ones. The statements of some of the controversialists that the 
old pseudo-bulbs are necessary to support the young growths is 
incorrect, as I have proved from experience similarly to “ B., Sussex." 
Dendrobiums have a bountiful supply of roots wherewith to absorb 
the food necessary for the support of the young growths without 
depending on the pseudo-bulbs. 
My experience of pruning Dendrobiums is similar to that of 
“ B., Sussex,’’ except that the current year’s growth does not start 
from the base of the pseudo-bulbs cut away, but from those of last 
year, which will in the ordinary course flower next season. “B., 
Sussex,” has evidently fallen into error on this point, and it would be 
well if he stated his mode of pruning Dendrobiums more clearly. 
We have never yet seen Dendrobiums having growths as fine as 
those described by “ B.," where old pseudo-bulbs had been allowed to 
remain on the plant.—V. 
FRUIT PROSPECTS. 
The prospect of most hardy fruits is very encouraging this year owing 
to the fine weather. The more delicate wall fruits (such as Apricots, 
Peaches, and Nectarines) are very promising; the blossoms have been 
unusually strong and fine, and are setting well. Seldom of late years 
has such a display of Plum flowers been seen. The size and quality of 
some of them are remarkable, many of the expanded blooms being nearly 
2 inches in diameter. The Pears both on walls, bush, and pyramid trees 
are flowering unusually well, and the same remark applies to Cherries, 
Apples, and Gooseberries. 
Most vegetable seeds are germinating satisfactorily under very favour¬ 
able circumstances as regards weather. Potato-planting is well in hand, 
ami the outlook generally is very encouraging. Owing to the late 
genial showers vegetation is making rapid advance.—A. 0. W. 
THE SHRUBBERY IN SPRING. 
The first plant to bloom was the lowly Erica herbacea carnea> 
followed by Daphne Mezereum in February ; D. Fortunei, with its lilac 
flowers, coming in at the same time. The first real show was made by 
the Almonds, their flowers being quite effective at a distance. They 
show best when treated as standards, and flower most profusely in a 
light soil as the wood becomes ripened ; in fact in a wet soil or cold one 
the wood is often injured by severe weather and dies back. Similar 
remarks apply to the double Chinese Peaches (Amygdalus sinensis alba 
plena and rosea plena), which succeed the Almonds in flowering, and 
are followed by the Peaches (Amygdalus persica), and are very fine 
where they do well, but are at best tender, being liable to gum, and 
trees of large size are rarely seen. 
Cornus mascula variegata is by no means despicable, as its bright 
yellow flowers, which are produced abundantly before the leaves and 
during the early spring month®, ought to secure for it a place in every 
shrubbery. The Cornelian Cherry is not remarkable after flowering, 
but the variegated form is one of the finest of hardy shrubs, and is useful 
both for flowers and foliage. Trained as a pyramid it is very tractable, 
being kept in shape with very little pruning. 
The most showy of the shrubs flowering this year in March were 
Forsythia Fortunei and F. suspensa (what is the difference ?) the 
flowers being borne in profusion along the branches and of a bright 
yellow, and certainly ought to be in every shrubbery. Being of some¬ 
what straggling habit any irregularities of growth can be cut in after 
flowering, and every encouragement given to form young growths, on 
which the flowers are most abundantly produced. F. viridissima is 
poor compared with the others, flowering very much less freely, and is 
not nearly as effective. 
Spiraea prunifolia flore plena has pure white double flowers, very 
freely produced. It forms a somewhat spreading bush about 5 feet in 
height. The flowers are borne along the branches, and it is of graceful 
habit. 
“ Mahonia aquifolium, with its bright golden clusters of bloom, is very 
effective, and is useful for margins and banks, not the least of its 
attractions being its evergreen character and the profusion of its large 
purple berries in autumn. Berberis Darwini is unquestionably the finest 
of th family, its rich drooping racemes of golden flowers in contrast 
with the deep green foliage being very striking. B. Jamiesoni, with 
its pale lemon flowers, is pleasing. Mahonia trifoliata, with noble foliage 
and large heads of yellow flowers, is well worth a place, giving it a 
sheltered situation. 
Andromeda floribunda forms one of the neatest of dwarf evergreen 
shrubs, and is mostly covered with its Lily of the Valley-like bells, 
white and fragrant. It does best in peaty soil, but is not any more 
particular in this respect than Rhododendrons. 
Azara microphylla is a neat shrub, its deep shining green leaves and 
drooping habit rendering it desirable. The flowers are hidden under the 
foliage, but it cannot fail to please on account of the fragrance. Ribes 
are flowering strongly; they are indispensable, and grow nearly any¬ 
where. R. sanguineum, R. albidum, and R. Gordonianum are the best. 
The Ribes should, from their free-flowering and effective display in the 
shrubbery, be grown extensively, but not to the extent of precluding 
others equally showy; indeed, shrubberies should be so arranged as to 
afford a succession throughout the year. Kerria japonica flore plena 
with its golden flowers is very showy and well worth a place, being as 
hardy, and does not need the protection of a wall except in exposed 
situations.—G. Abbey. 
LILIUM AURATUM. 
Why have so many imported bulbs of this Lily perished 
under cultivation in this country ? Various theories have been 
advanced in answer to this question, and I submit that there has 
been too much of theory and too little of practice brought to 
bear upon it. It is neither creditable nor desirable that a 
difficulty should be suffered to become a mystery, and yet it 
must be acknowledged that a very general feeling of doubt 
exists as to the possibility of keeping the magnificent bulbs of 
L. auratum which come to us direct from Japan by tens of thou¬ 
sands every year in a healthy improving condition after the first 
year. I, for one, must own to having lost every one of a certain 
number of such bulbs a few years ago; nor was I much surprised 
at the loss, for the bulbs were planted in newly made shrubbery 
borders in very poor soil, and left without any particular subse¬ 
quent care to struggle for bare existence amid a host of all sorts 
of wild growth which sprang up around them and could not be 
destroyed until it was too late. This slovenly practice was 
unavoidable amidst the thousand and one matters pressing upon 
our attention in a new garden made under circumstances of 
exceptional difficulty. 
In the last number of the Journal of last year I explained in 
full detail another and certainly a fairer trial with fifty bulbs, 
which had so far proved successful—that is to say, each bulb 
had thrown up a strong growth, which had afforded a delightful 
succession of fragrant blossom for upwards of three months. 
The bulbs were left undisturbed in the soil and some finely 
sifted coal ashes spread upon the surface to exclude frost. All 
of them are now growing so much stronger than last year— 
most of them having two stems so sturdy and robust, that I 
feel justified in recording a success which points to still better 
things in future. 
One of the most important points in the cultivation of these 
bulbs was undoubtedly promptitude in potting them imme¬ 
diately after the purchase, for the flaccid condition of the bulbs 
then clearly betokened exhaustion from being kept out of soil 
and exposure to the air. Plunged among and under a bed of 
coal ashes in a cold frame in pots of moist soil the bulbs soon 
became plump and firm again, and root-action followed, so that 
when they were turned out into the borders in March the pots 
were found to be well filled with roots, and the growth was 
pushing strongly. The same course was followed with another 
batch of imported bulbs purchased for this season in case of 
failure with any or all of last year’s supply, and with precisely 
similar results thus far. 
So far, then, as this trial may be taken for guidance in 
subsequent practice, it shows that the imported bulbs should be 
purchased as early in the season as possible. Each bulb should 
be potted separately in a G-inch pot and forthwith plunged in a 
bed of coal ashes—not necessarily in a cold frame, but prefer¬ 
ably where they can be overlooked occasionally. A rich, porous, 
well-drained bed of soil should be prepared for them, and they 
should be turned out of the pots and planted in it early in 
spring. Once planted they should not be disturbed, and frost 
should be excluded from the soil by a mulching in autumn of 
coal ashes or cocoa-nut fibre. Avoid exhaustion of the bulbs by 
exposure to the air and being kept out of the soil. Avoid 
planting in poor, thin, or undrained soil; do not plant all your 
stock in one bed fully out in the open, but plant some in sunny 
places, some in partial shade, and so prolong the succession of 
flowers.— Edward Luokhurst. 
Purfle Sproutino Broccoli. —For the past month I have been 
cutting beautiful tender little heads of this delicious vegetable, and a 
neighbouring gardener, who has to supply a family of epicures, tells me 
