JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
196 
[ March 0, 1882. 
down the tree to about 2 feet of the bottom of the branches, 
and if the roots are healthy you will be rewarded by new growth 
of much vigour. 
Trust not, h >wever, entirely to the pruning knife, but look also 
closely to the condition of the soil, and carefully enrich it if it is 
at all exhausted. It is well to have a heap of suitable soil always 
in reserve for this purpose. It may consist of auy rich decayed 
garden refuse, with a moderate proportion of coal ashes, lime and 
mortar rubbish, especially where soil is known to be deficient in 
lime, and wood ashes which contain the fertilising potash of which 
soil is usually deficient. 
Look also to the drainage of the soil. Old drains become 
choked and cease to act from a variety of causes, and a tree 
cannot continue healthy or fruitful in a water-logged soil. Apart 
from the health of the roots there is another vital reason why the 
soil of orchards and fruit gardens should be drained, which is 
that the comparatively dry soil is warmer, frosts are less prevalent, 
less severe near it, consequently there is less danger of the blossom 
suffering from cold, for the gain of a single degree of heat may 
save the crop.—E dward Luckhurst. 
INCREASING PHLOXES. 
These are my favourite hardy flowers, and as the demand for 
them is rapidly extending, the present is a good time to call 
attention to their propagation. This is easily effected, the best 
way of increasing the stock being division of the plants. About 
this time last year I planted a hundred of the best varieties. At 
that time they were in 3-inch pots, and had a small root and 
single stem each. The soil and position being good, they produced 
some wonderful stems last year, and the heads of bloom were 
much finer than when seen on old stools with a dozen or more 
spikes each. Those plants are now producing from four to a 
dozen strong growths ; and as we wish to increase all of them, 
two small plants will be taken from each, and they will come as 
fine as the others were last year. The soil is removed a little 
from the roots, and the fresh plants are cut away with a knife. 
A good root is secured with each, and when planted at once they 
never appear to feel the change. This is much the easiest and 
surest way of incrensing Phloxes, but only good varieties should be 
divided and replanted. Indeed only such should now be grown, 
as there is abundance of them, and they are vastly superior to the 
old indistinct-coloured small-flowered sorts.—M. M. 
BROMELIADS. 
The Pine Apple family includes a large number of plants, 
chiefly natives of Brazil and the West Indian islands, many being 
epiphytes, and are found growing in company with Orchids and 
similar other things. There are many curious and pretty species 
among the epiphytal forms, and of which the Tillandsias are 
perhaps the most conspicuous. Some of the Tillandsias that are 
found growing on trees are exceedingly pretty when not in bloom, 
owing to the beautiful silvery colour of their foliage. The flowers 
also are showy—purple, white, and red being the most prominent 
colours. There are two or three of the dwarfest species of Til- 
landsia that are found growing on trees which are particularly 
worthy of note. For instance, T. usneoides, or as it is locally 
known by the name of “ The Old Man’s Beard,” is one of the 
most peculiar plants. It is curious in several ways, one of which 
is its strange mode of growth, for instead of growing towards the 
light it grows the reverse way, and spirally. It seems to make no 
roots. It only requires to be secured to a piece of wood and sus¬ 
pended from the roof of the house, and above all it requires no 
water, excepting the moisture from a warm stove atmosphere. 
The shoots grow to a length of 18 inches or 2 feet, and flowers 
are rarely produced by plants in cultivation. T. Gardneri is 
another pretty plant. It grows admirably fastened to a piece of 
wood and suspended from the roof. Its beautiful silvery foliage 
and bright purple flowers combined render it very attractive. 
At one time Bromeliaceous plants were grown more extensively 
than they have been lately, and ASchmea fulgens was a favourite 
with all, but even this old plant has fallen into disrepute. I am 
glad to see they are again coming into notice, for several of our 
leading nurserymen have commenced growing them rather exten¬ 
sively. The old system of growing them must eventually be 
superseded, for it is a mistake to keep the crowns dry, neither 
do they require to be kept so dry at the roots as many may 
suppose. 
Amongst the Bromeliads that are of the most horticultural 
value, some of the larger-growing Tillandsias are undoubtedly 
the leading plants. The most showy of all, T. Lindeni, stands 
pre-eminent. Its value is well known, and it should find a place 
in all collections of stove plants. T. Saundersii is a very compact- 
growiDg plant, slightly glaucous on the upper surface, and spotted 
with light brown on the under side. This is a plant suitable for a 
small vase. T. tessellata is perhaps one of the finest marked of 
the genus, and has a very pleasing effect by gaslight. The 
groundwork of the young leaves as they appear are of a greenish 
yellow colour, finely marked with a darker green. As they become 
older the dark green is the most prominent. T. splendens is a 
useful kind both in foliage and flower, and should be grown in 
quantity. One good quality is that the leaves are not nearly so 
crisp as many of the other species, making it a desirable decorative 
plant. T. Malzinei is another useful kind. The upper surface of 
the leaves are light green, the under surface of which are marked 
with a light brown. T. mosaica is rather scarce at present. When 
it becomes better known it will no doubt find a place in every 
collection. The leaves are very handsome, and the robust habit 
of the plant makes it a desirable acquisition. 
Pitcairnias are very useful plants for furnishing purposes. 
They stand well in rooms, and are well adapted for using 
amongst other plants of a bolder character. P. flammea is a 
strong-growing species and easily cultivated ; the long, narrow, 
6ilvery, arching leaves and branched flower spikes, which are of a 
fiery-red colour, are characters sufficient to recommend it. P. 
bromelicefolia and P. Decaisnei are closely related to the last 
species, the flowers of which are very showy, and remain in 
perfection for a long time. A3chmeas are well worth culti¬ 
vating, for when in flower they are extremely showy. Such 
species as A3. fulgens, A3. Wielbachi, and A3, fasciata are by no 
means to be despised. The genus Vriesia is represented by two 
or three species that are of dwarf growth. V. brachystachys, 
V. psittacina, and V. speciosa are remarkable for the brilliant 
colours displayed in their flowers. Very handsome specimens can 
be made by plunging three or four plants together when in flower 
in a pan with moss. By so doing their flowers are shown off to 
the best advantage. There are several other genera that could be 
mentioned of less importance, such as the Nidulariums, Catopis, 
Melionia, and Cryptanthus. I have not alluded to the Bilbergias 
in this paper ; for although some of the species are really very 
handsome when in flower, and B. zebrina especially so in flower 
and foliage, the sharp spines which arm the leaves, the long thin 
habit of some of the species, are considerations which are not in 
their favour from a horticultural point of view.—W. K. 
GARDENING IN MOIST DISTRICTS. 
I have lately come to reside in a hilly part of Pembrokeshire, 
at no great distance from the seacoast. Great has been my dis¬ 
appointment to find that I cannot bloom many favourite flowers 
which used to do well with me in Somersetshire. The hill mists 
constantly descend upon my gardens, and my Roses, Petunias, 
and Geraniums are failures. The two last damp off before the 
flowers are fully out, and the greater number of my standard 
Roses have perished. The dampness of the atmosphere even 
affects plants in the houses. I have tried in vain to flower 
Mardchal Niel Rose under glass, the young shoots become mil¬ 
dewed as soon as they are formed. Pansies and Violas, which I 
had hitherto considered would do well in a damp situation, have 
also failed. I should be glad to have advice from any lover of 
flowers who has had experience of such a climate, and to hear 
what plants it would be best to cultivate in order to have the 
garden bright with flowers. The yellow Calceolaria is the only 
plant which has succeeded with me.—M. A. M. 
[We shall be glad to hear from those of our readers who have 
had experience under the conditions indicated, so as to aid our 
correspondent and others similarly situated to render their gardens 
satisfactory. It would have been well if the nature of the soil 
had been stated. We have been informed that Mignonette will 
not grow in the gardens at Drumlanrig, presumably on account 
of excessive moisture, but Violas are brilliant there and in other 
moist districts in Scotland.] 
SHRUBBY SPIR2EAS. 
It would be difficult to select a genus of shrubby plants which 
would contribute more to enhance the beauty of shrubberies and 
lawns than that of Spiraea. It embraces an extensive group of 
woody plants, some of which, in the beauty of their inflorescence, 
vie with the well-known herbaceous Spiraea palmata. They are 
generally of neat habit, and some of the species are very dwarf. 
One of the best of the latter is S. cana, which has small hoary 
leaves and lateral racemes of small white flowers, which impart 
to it a most striking and graceful appearance. Indeed, it must 
rank as one of the best amongst the small-leaved forms. It is as 
