August 9, 1883. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
115 
bands of straw or hay, and branches of evergieens, are only 
apologies for efficient protection—viz., canvas covering, or better 
still, Nottingham wool netting, quarter-inch mesh. The late 
Rev. W. F. Radclyffe was very successful with Peaches outdoors, 
attributing his success to thorough protection for the blossom, 
tender fruit, and young easily injured foliage; and I know the 
old gardeners were very successful with Apricots, and all wall 
fruit for that matter, and they employed efficient protection 
from the opening of the blossoms until the danger from frosts 
in May was past. But of late years the culture of wall-fruit 
ctrees has been very much neglected. 
As aids to climate there is the warmth of the wall, but in 
the case of a fixed protection it obstructs the sun’s rays con¬ 
siderably, and the wall absorbs very little, the case being very 
different when the protecting material is withdrawn in the day¬ 
time and replaced at night. Projecting copings to the wails 
are also of value. They to some extent prevent the passing 
off of the heat upward, increase the heat by day and retain it 
at night, as well as prevent the descent of cold and wet. A 
great improvement has of late years obtained in glass copings, 
which with stout scrim canvas in front, and readily moveable, 
are practically all that our climate requires for the successful 
cultivation of the Apricot against walls. 
The copings should be moveable, not being fixed until the 
blossoms show generally white, as until this stage the blossoms 
are comparatively safe from frost; but when the blossoms show 
the corollas they need dryness and warmth. After the beginning 
of June the trees are best exposed to the full in¬ 
fluence of the atmosphere, and the coping should 
remain off until the fruit is ripening, when they 
Should be returned and continued over the trees 
until the leaves are failin'?, then they should be re¬ 
moved and not used again until the time above indi¬ 
cated. Keeping them overthetreesinwinter affords 
unnecessary warmth, and induces undue swelling 
of the buds in warm sunny periods.—G. Abbey. 
(To be continued. 
NOTES AT CHISWICK. 
Both under glass and outside there is now much to 
interest a visitor to the Royal Horticultural Society’s 
Gardens, Chiswick, and probably a better opportunity 
could not be selected for a journey thither. The recent 
rains have refreshed the flower beds and vegetable quar¬ 
ters considerably, aud the fruit crops are fairly satis¬ 
factory, except the Pears, which are very scarce. Small 
fruits, particularly the Gooseberries, are abundanr. 
Strawberries have been good, Black and Red Currants 
plentiful, but Cherries and Plums are few. Several trials 
have been taken in hand this season, including Peas, 
Potatoes, Tomatoes, Verbenas, Zonal bedding Pelargo¬ 
niums, Pansies, Violas, and others, each of which pos¬ 
sesses considerable interest. It is, however, a misfortune 
that the results of these trials are so rarely published 
now, for the advantage that would be otherwise derived 
from them is practically lost to the majority of cultiva¬ 
tors. So much careful labour is expended upon the re¬ 
ports of these trials, that it is very regretable they should 
be permitted to remain in manuscript stored in the 
archives of the Society, and accessible to few even of 
the Fellows, especially those living at a distance, and 
who might fairly claim an equal right to the benefits 
•derivable from the Society’s work. Those, however, who 
have the opportunity of visiting Chiswick can always find both instruc¬ 
tion and interest, as they are most readily assisted by the courteous 
Superintendent, Mr. A. F. Barren, and his able subordinates. It is there¬ 
fore an especial pleasure to have a run through the grounds and houses, 
and a9 I have recently had that pleasure I may briefly state a few of the 
features that most attracted my attention in the short time at my disposal. 
ACHIMENE3. 
In one of the warm houses an excellent collection of these is grown, 
including both the best of the old varieties, together with the most 
notable of the more recent productions in this useful class of plants. The 
value of Achimenes is generally acknowledged and understood, as either 
in baskets, pots,’ or pans they are exceedingly attractive, easily grown, 
and profuse in flowering. Perhaps, however, the most satisfactory mode of 
growing them is in baskets suspended from the roof of a house, as their 
beauty is seen much more readily and advantageously then than other¬ 
wise. The magnificent examples thus grown at Ckatsworth may almost 
be considered unique, and can only be compared to gigantic balls of 
flowers when in their best condition. They are, or were a year or two 
since, grown in the tropical Water Lily house, and suspended round and 
over the central tank, from which a warm humidity is continually rising, 
they appear grand, and thrive most satisfactorily. At Chiswick, however, 
the object is not so much the production of wonderfully large specimens 
as to show the relative merits of the different varieties, for which purpose 
the plants are carefully and liberally treated to ensure vigorous health 
and floriferousness. This is well accomplished by growing them in a 
moderate temperature, excessive heat and moisture having with them, 
as with many other plants, too great a tendency to produce a long weak 
comparatively flowerless growth. The varieties are numerous, but the 
following may be taken as the best of their respective types :— 
Marne Perfection. —Large handsome flower, rich bluish purple, clear 
colour ; free, and of good habit. 
Sir Trehei'ne Thomas. —An exceedingly free-flowering variety, with 
bright crimson blooms of moderate size. 
Ambroise Verscliaffelt. —A well-known form with flowers of medium 
size, white ground streaked with purple ; free and good. 
Dentonia. —A very distinct variety, with delicately tinted pale lavender 
flower-. 
Harry Williams. —One of the brightest coloured forms in cultivation; 
flowers moderate in size, neat in form, extremely bright scarlet. Very 
free and effective. 
Carl Woolforth. —A useful variety, remarkably floriferous ; compact 
in habit, and of a fine purple colour. 
Dazzler. —An old but attractive variety, bearing abundant small 
bright scarlet flowers ; dwarf and compact, being especially suited for 
culture in pots. 
Mauve Queen. —One of the largest flowers of all, a really grand 
bloom ; flat, and of great substance ; colour, a clear purplish mauve. 
Margarita. —Flowers rather small, but white, and useful for contrast 
with the brighter-coloured varieties. 
I IIP ATHENS PLATYPETALA ALBA. 
In the same house as the above a number of plants of this charm.ng 
Fig. 22.—Brodiasa grandiflora (see page 113). 
Balsam are grown, and it deserves especial notice now that the rosy 
scarlet Impatiens Sultani is becoming so popular, as it would form a 
most valuable companion to that lovely species. It is of easy culture, 
and succeeds in any house with an intermediate temperature, producing 
its pure white-spurred flowers very freely, and though these are 
undoubtedly of short duration, the continual succession renders the 
plant attractive during a long period. It is chiefly increased by seeds, 
though probably, like the other named above, it could be also propagated 
by cuttings. 
ZONAL PELARGONIUMS. 
A most brilliant display of Zonal Pelargoniums is formed in another 
house, both single and double varieties from all the most celebrated 
growers of these useful plants being represented in the collection. When 
seen in a mass, as is the case there, the effect is dazzling, and the eye 
seems to seek for relief in quieter tints. The momentary effect is very 
striking, but one seems to tire quickly of such overwhelming colour when 
not moderated by an admixture of green or soft hues. When these 
plants are flowering in the profuse manner which characterises them they 
seem to need something more than their own foliage, and a few taller 
Palms, Ferns, and similar plants introduced at intervals in the bed 
would render the effect more pleasing without detracting from the value 
of the collection for purposes of comparison. Varieties of these plants 
have been so frequently named in these pages that it is unnecessary to 
