384 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May 15, 1884. 
competitors must give notice to the Hon. Secretaries by Saturday, 
June 7tb, of their intention to compete. 
PANICUM VARIEGATUM AND ISOLEPIS GRAOILTS. 
In the above we have two very useful plants for decorative purposes* 
and no one having such work to perform should fail to grow a few 
dozens of each. A great recommendation is that they grow freely in any 
light sandy soil, and in a genial temperature ; and they are so easily 
propagated that anyone in possession of a few plants may readily raise a 
large number. The Panicum is increased by cuttings, the Isolepis by 
division. They may be employed with effect in many ways. What, 
however, I wish more particularly to draw attention to is their suitability 
for growing in small thumb pots. They have a very pleasing appearance 
as a fringe to other plants, and for such a purpose they cannot be too 
largely grown.— Joseph Richardson, Calverton Ilall, Notts. 
TYING DOWN VINE SHOOTS. 
In the last issue of the Journal Mr. Young advocates tying Vine shoots 
below the wires; but desirable as that may appear, there are several 
objections to it, which in some cases, indeed, render it almost impracti¬ 
cable. In the first place, if the shoots are brought below the wire 
and the ties employed should break when the bunches are swelling, there 
is nothing to prevent the shoot breaking and the Grapes falling ; whereas 
when the shoot is above the wire this would prevent any serious accident, 
even if the ties did break. Another matter of importance is that there is 
often great danger of breaking the shoots in endeavouring to bring them 
beneath the wires, especially if the growth is somewhat advanced before 
the tying-down is attended to. In some cases indeed it is quite impossible 
from the position of the shoots to place them under the wires. It should 
also be remembered that the chief danger of the shoots pressing up to 
the glass in the early stages, which tying down is quite sufficient to 
prevent, but afterwards the weight of the bunches will keep them down 
effectually. I have seen so many laterals broken in efforts to get them 
under wires, as advised by your correspondent, that I thought a word of 
warning might be useful to some readers.—Y. 
PRUNING ROSES. 
Like “A. C.” (page 345) I was for many years a firm believer in 
early pruning ; so much so, in fact, that after the wood became matured 
in the autumn I could not withstand the temptation to prune such varie¬ 
ties as by experience I knew would be least likely to suffer thereby. 
The same operation was also practised at intervals through the winter 
season when the weather and other circumstances permitted, and very 
seldom indeed had I cause to regret having done so, by afterwards seeing 
either blackened shoots or deformed buds as the result of such practice. 
This was, however, in the high and comparatively dry midlands, where 
the elevation was such as insured a continuance of a more uniform tem¬ 
perature and a far greater dryness in the atmosphere than I have found 
in the more variable valleys of the south. In these there is a far greater 
tendency in the Rose to produce early and more succulent growth, that 
is much more susceptible to injury than when grown in a more ele¬ 
vated position where the climate is drier and where there is a compara¬ 
tive immunity from spring frosts. With some assurance and much faith 
I ventured to follow the same practice for a few years after I became 
located in the south, but too frequent failures soon caused me to change 
my tactics, especially when I found by comparison that the results from the 
early and the late pruned plants were most decidedly in favour of the 
latter. 
After several years’ experience, and also after comparing notes with 
others similarly situated to myself, I can come to no other conclusion 
than that April-pruned Roses give, in such positions, at least much the 
best results. These notes apply more particularly to the treatment of 
standards, which must from necessity, so as to keep them within bounds, 
be pruned back annually, but in respect to dwarf Roses I much prefer un- 
pruned pegged plants, whether for the purpose of garden decoration or for 
producing fine blooms for the exhibition table. These, if the buds be well 
thinned, give as fine and as perfect blooms as it is possible to produce 
either upon standards or upon hard-pruned plants, and they are not nearly 
so liable to be destroyed by early frosts as the young shoots are upon 
Beverely pruned plants.—W. C. T. 
EXOTIC PLANTS IN CORNWALL. 
The similarity of the flora of this part of England to that of the 
Channel Islands and also of West Europe is very striking. A remarkable 
fact in connection with West Cornwall, or, indeed, of the entire county, 
is the singular absence of any extensive tracts of woodlands. Plants from 
the Cape of Good Hope and South Australia seem to thrive there with quite 
a native vigour. Japanese plants are singularly “at home.” Camellias, 
Rhododendrons, and Azaleas may be specially mentioned as attaining tree¬ 
like size under ordinary cultivation. Very beautiful are the three splendid 
“ specimen ” Camellia trees during the very early months of spring at 
Tredrea, near Penzance, the seat of Robin Bolitho, Esq. The very large 
specimen tree at Penalvern, near Penzance, is said to be the first ever 
brought into Cornwall, or, at the least, the western part of the county. A 
very famous wall of Camellias is that at the residence of Geo. Williams, 
Esq., Scorrier. Lamorran in the east and Trewidden in the west are 
famous for their very fine collections of Rhododendrons, which assume 
gigantic proportions. 
The severe winter 1879-80 killed many important exotic plants. 
Many more suffered great injury. Among succulent plants Aloe Barber®, 
A. barbadensis, A. ciliaris, A. dichotoma, A. plicatilis, A. socotrina, and 
Agave undulata; A. filifera and A. mitris were, I am informed by Mr. 
Tyerman, killed in and around Tregony. Palmaceous plants, such as 
Chamaerops humilis and Fortunei, Corypha australis, and several others 
were severely damaged, and in many instances killed, but escaped pretty 
well at the Scilly Islands. Several species of Araucaria, including excelsa, 
Cookii, and Bidwcllii were also killed. 
Plants which are quite hardy at Scilly differ very much from those of 
the mainland, and more particularly the more eastern part of the county. 
Some beautiful Dicksonias have withstood the severity of several winters 
very well indeed. At Scilly and at one or two favoured localities around 
Penzance it is not much injured, but at Hayle (about twelve miles from 
Penzance), a large plant, some several feet in height, was killed. As a 
general rule this Fern requires protection from winds. Next to the Ivy 
and Ampelopsis no climber here flourishes in so luxuriant a manner as 
the common Passion-flower (Passiflora caerulea); through mild winters it 
is evergreen, the leaves presenting a pleasing contrast to the numerous deep 
yellow Orange-like fruit. It thrives well within a short distance of the sea, 
where, however, it becomes perfectly deciduous. 
The Heaths are well at home there as border plants in a peaty soil. 
The one which thrives and continues in flower from the early part of 
December until early summer is Erica carnea; E. ciliaris, E. gracilis, and 
E. mediterranea I noticed in flower at Christmas a year or so ago. Although 
preferring a peaty compost, most of the hardy sorts do very well in a 
sandy soil. Naturally the Veronicas are perfectly at home; hut I would 
call attention to not only one of the best, but one which flowers continually 
throughout winter and spring—it is V. Lindleyana. The habit of the plant 
is very neat, and the racemes of flowers are white with a bluish tint. 
Much-neglected and very hardy plants are the several species of Co- 
toneaster; well-trained plants of C. microphylla are pretty objects 
throughout the winter, having a profusion of small white flowers and con¬ 
spicuous red berries. Growing on a wall with the last Darned, I noticed ia 
Mr. Mitchinson’s garden a rather weather-beaten specimen of Clematis 
Jackmanni. It has been there for several years and continues to produce 
its handsome flowers throughout the winter—less profusely, it is true, than 
it would do under more favourable conditions. Several Dracaenas are 
almost hardy ; during severe winters they are usually killed to the ground, 
but they generally throw out side shoots from the root during the spring 
months. Much serious mischief to these very desirable plants may be 
prevented by carefully collecting the leaves of each close together, securing 
them in this position by matting; they will then withstand the severest of 
weathers almost unhurt. Scilly is the home for Dracaenas and Cordylines, 
although the collection there has suffered much of late years. The number 
of Acacias there is, I believe, considerable. They do not appear to require 
any special culture, but thrive well in a rather light sandy soil, and in a 
position sheltered from the winds. As is the case when grown in the 
greenhouse, unless they are carefully trained and kept within bounds they 
soon become straggly and ill-shaped. —William Roberts. 
WHAT IS AN AMATEUR? 
This question appears on pages 349 and 359 of your Journal, and has 
reference^ to the method of exhibiting at the late Auricula show. The 
question should be settled and not shirked, and I think the prizes might 
be divided .better. I suggest the following for consideration and dis¬ 
cussion by abler writers than myself. Cannot classes be formed in four 
sections, as follows :—1, nurserymen ; 2, professional gardeners ; 3, ama¬ 
teurs ; and 4, cottagers? 
First, I would allow exhibitors in sections 1 and 2 to show in their 
respective classes or together ; also those in sections 3 and 4. I would 
allow 3 to show with 2, and 4 with 3, but not in reverse order. A 
champion class might be formed for the old and successful growers, 
allowing 1, 2, and 3 section exhibitors to compete. 
“ The definition of an amateur at present admitted appears to many 
little short of monstrous, and the manner in which all the gardening 
journals recognise a gentleman’s gardener and a dealer in plants as an 
amateur is to me very surprising. 
A nurseryman is a person who trades in plants. 
An amateur is a person who does his own work and does not grow 
plants for sale. 
A professional gardener is a person employed by a gentleman who 
provides skilled helpers in the management of his garden. 
A cottager is a labourer or artisan who does not work as a cultivator 
in a garden or nursery as a means of livelihood. 
The above is quite applicable to all shows of flowers, fruit, and vege¬ 
tables.—J. E. Waiting, Grange-over-Sands. 
THE HEALTH EXHIBITION. 
The extensive series of buildings in the Royal Horticultural Society's 
Gardens, South Kensington, are now crowded with exhibits of much general 
interest that will undoubtedly attract large numbers of visitors during the 
season. Horticulturists will find much to admire, but of special interest to 
them will be the seedsmen’s stands, the nurserymen’s groups of shrubs and 
Conifers, while the numerous Promenade, Fruit, and Vegetable Shows to be 
held by the Royal Horticultural Society during the season will constitute 
still more important attractions. The grounds have been excellently prepared, 
the slopes and terraces returfed, the walks newly gravelled, and everything 
