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421 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
similar conditions in Geraniums. Thus, in Geranium pratense, our 
largest-flowering wild species, both the sets of five stamens mature 
before the stigmas. In G. pyrenaicum, which has a smaller flower 
than the last, the first set are over before the pistil matures, which 
it'does simultaneously with the second set of stamens. In G. molle 
it is the same, only the corolla is still smaller ; but in G. pusillum, 
which has the smallest flower of any, the pistil matures first and the 
stamens afterwards. This condition is called “ proterogynous.” 
Mr. Henslow then explained how, as he believed, this has come 
about. That whenever a flower has a large corolla, well-developed 
stamens, and much pollen it will be found to be proterandrous, 
simply from the fact that those outer whorls require so much nou¬ 
rishment that the pistil is delayed in its development. In proportion, 
however, as the corolla and stamens are relatively small then the 
pistil is enabled to mature more rapidly, and even to precede the 
development of the stamens, and thus become proterogynous. He 
next called attention to the honey nectary which forms a long tube 
adherent to the pedicel, and compared it to the “spur” of Tropse- 
olums, in which plant it was free and not “ adnate ” to the stalk, a 
character which separated these so-called Nasturtiums from Pelar¬ 
gonium, both belonging to the same tribe of the family Geraniacem. 
The peculiar character of the fruic called for some remarks. The 
carpels separating in Geranium from a central beak-like prolongation 
of the axis by curling upwards, but in Pelargonium and Erodium the 
carpels twist also, forming a long spiral-like awn. This is extremely 
hygrometric and uncoils when moistened, the use being, as Dr. F. 
Darwin has shown, to enable such fruits to bury their seeds by the 
upper part catching amongst the leaves of plants, and so securing a 
point d'appui when the “ awn ” uncoils in wet weather, and screws its 
sharp-pointed fruit into the ground. 
CRATAEGUS COCCINEA. 
Nearly two centuries have elapsed since this tree was intro¬ 
duced to our gardens from North America, and yet it is by no 
means frequently seen in gardens and pleasure grounds. We 
much fear that, owing to the crowding system of planting shrub¬ 
beries that has been fashionable during the past few years, many 
deciduous flowering trees have not been permitted to develope in 
a natural manner and arrive at a satisfactory flowering state. 
Many deciduous trees that would have been objects of beauty if 
space had been afforded them have been crowded out and cut 
away to make room for some formal Conifer, as the best mode of 
rectifying errors in planting ! We should like to see greater dis¬ 
crimination in planting trees in the positions that are most suit¬ 
able for them, and to see more well-grown specimens of beautiful 
flowering trees associated with evergreens, and on the fringes of 
ornamental plantations. Crataegus coccinea, so named from its 
scarlet fruit, is a most distinct and attractive spring-flowering 
tree, and a good specimen never fails to command admiration. 
The figure on page 423 represents the character of the species. 
Both the flowers and foliage are large, and a tree 15 to 20 feet 
high, with its natural round head, forms one of the finest orna¬ 
ments of the pleasure ground during April and May. 
OLD AND NEW PEACH TREE TRAINING. 
Mr. Simpson, writing under this heading (seepage 393), thanks 
“ Single-handed ” for his information concerning old authors 
who have advanced the “extension system in Peach culture.” 
After a little criticism on the illustrations in the “Gardener’s 
Assistant” Mr. Simpson gives us a statement of the produce of 
“ four young Peach and Nectarine trees planted in 1878.” It is 
unfortunate that he did not state distinctly how many of the trees 
were Peaches and how many Nectarines, for the sake of getting a 
proper estimate of the results of each. I think he should have 
been more explicit in the heading, too. Might I ask him which is 
the old and which is the new system of Peach-tree training? 
Mr. Simpson invites those who have been so long ahead of him 
in the cultivation of the Peach to furnish him with particulars 
referring to the fertility and training of the trees. I have made 
it a rule for the last thirty years or more to leave the young wood 
its entire length at pruning time. I thin and cut out ail the 
weak and useless branches not required, and train the trees in fan 
shape. I disbud early in the season, and if the terminal bud is 
not strong and healthy I disbud to the next strongest. I often 
use lateral shoots to fill up when required, but not otherwise. In 
disbudding I leave all the shoots requisite on the upper side only, 
having them as near the base as possible. I have no difficulty in 
keeping the trees well furnished with healthy voung wood to the 
bottom under this system of training; I believe'it to be the oldest, 
aud the shortening of the shoots to be of a later date. I am sorry 
I cannot oblige Mr. Simpson with the information asked for 
referring to the fertility of young trees, but I have often gathered 
from three hundred to four hundred fine fruit from a tree grown 
as stated, and on walls outside. 
In conclusion I might say that the system I have shortly 
described has been practised to my knowledge in most places in 
this district for more than twenty years, and this controversy 
cannot fail to “amuse” many, though they lack the courage of 
appearing in print.—A. Lindsay, Ditton Park , Slough, Bucks. 
I HAVE much pleasure in giving my old friend Mr. Simpson 
the information he asks for in last week’s issue respecting the 
fertility of Peach trees trained on the system I described in the 
Journal of Horticulture a short time since. In doing so I take 
this opportunity to inform him, that when I wrote the paper 
referred to I was not aware that he had published a book on the 
cultivation of the Peach. My paper was in the hands of the 
Editor of this Journal before a notice of his book appeared in any 
of the gardening periodicals. My sole reason for writing was to 
prove that what is now called the “ extension system of pruning 
and training the Peach tree ” was not new, as has been supposed 
by some. The system has to my knowledge been practised for 
years before Mr. Simpson was born, and practised by me for 
more than twenty years ! Mr. Simpson will, I am sure, excuse 
anyone in possession of these facts being “amused” at the articles 
that have appeared on this subject lately, and say with the wise 
man of old, “ There is nothing new under the sun.” 
In old-established gardens the building and planting of Peach 
houses are of rare occurrence, and it falls to the lot of few gar¬ 
deners to carry out such work. A gardener might live in a place 
all his life and not have the opportunity of doing either, as Peach 
trees properly managed will keep in good bearing condition for a 
much longer time than that; so that comparatively few gardeners 
will be in a position to supply Mr. Simpson with the desired 
information respecting the fertility of young Peach trees grown 
in houses. Were I to speak of my experience as a young man, I 
might say I was never fortunate enough to be at a place where a 
Peach house was planted during the time I was there, and my 
experience was not confined to one or two places, but to many. I 
made it a rule to see as much as possible and to learn all I could, 
and never to remain longer in any place than two years. 
It fell to my lot some ten or fourteen years since to plant a 
Peach house 60 feet in length, 14 feet wide, and 16 feet high. At 
the time of my taking charge of the place I found the house con¬ 
siderably out of order. The trees were trained partly on an old 
turn-over trellis and partly on a trellis on the back wall. I had 
the trees and trellises all taken out, the house repaired, and a new 
trellis put up close to the roof. After making a new border four 
young trees were planted. They grew rapidly, producing good 
crops of fruit, and in four years they completely filled the house, 
and have continued to bear heavy crops of fine fruit yearly ever 
since. I also had a new house built here six or seven years ago 
and planted with four trees, which filled the house and produced 
112 dozen fine Peaches in three years after being planted. I 
might say that the fruits were not counted on the trees, but 
counted as they were gathered to send away. 
In order to answer Mr. Simpson’s question I instructed my 
indoor foreman and one of the young men in the houses to count 
the Peaches on one of those trees on Friday last. A Royal George 
was chosen. The Peaches have thoroughly finished stoning some 
time since, and are now swelling off for the last time. I had 
string run up the tree from bottom to top at regular distances, 
and I told my men to be careful in counting, and each was to 
count separately all the fruits in the enclosures. After careful 
counting it was found that the tree was carrying a crop of no less 
than twenty-eight and a half dozen Peaches. 
A gardener of experience and ability, and one whose opinion I 
value much at all times on gardening and other subjects, called 
on me a few days ago. While looking at the Peach trees referred 
to he said they were without doubt four of the finest Peach trees 
for their age he had ever seen in England, Scotland, or Wales.— 
A. Pettigrew, Castle Gardens, Cardiff. 
HENRY JACOBY PELARGONIUM. 
As bedding-out is now in full progress let me recommend all 
who are able to do so to try a small bed of this brilliant semi- 
Nosegay variety. It is in my opinion without doubt one of the 
most valuable forms for massing that has been introduced during 
recent years. The plant is of free growth, yet dwarf, and is very 
floriferous ; the trusses are good, and the petals adhere to them 
better than those of many varieties do, while the colour is of the 
most glowing crimson imaginable. It is richer than Charles 
Smith, and the plant is dwarfer than Charles Schwind, both of 
which are valuable for decoration in or outdoors. Henry Jacoby 
is also equally valuable for cultivation in pots. Well-grown 
examples in 5 or 6-inch pots have a very rich appearance in 
