312 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 6, 1881. 
cessful veterans in life will see their way to place their experience 
before the readers of this Journal, that young gardeners mny be 
profited by it, and that they themselves may have the satisfaction 
of knowing that they have contributed something to the ad¬ 
vancement of the rising generation.—R. M. 
SENECIO PULCHER. 
The woodcut (fig. 51) represents a flowerhead and portion of a 
leaf of the attractive Groundsel, Senecio pulcher, from a plant in 
Mr. Parker’s nursery at Tooting, where this, among many other 
handsome plants, receives special attention. The care bestowed 
upon it seems to be well repaid, for though the habit is not quite 
so compact as might be desirable, the flowerheads are of unusual 
size and remarkably bright in colour. As regards the designation 
of the particular tint some varying opinions are expressed, but 
light magenta seems to express it as nearly as possible. It is a 
most pleasing shade, and when the other flowers are judiciously 
and tastefully selected blooms of this Senecio may be employed to 
excellent advantage in many floral arrangements. 
The great desideratum, too, in border plants—hardiness, is pro¬ 
vided in the one under consideration, and a border can be made 
really attractive late in summer and early in autumn by freely 
planting the best forms of Michaelmas Daisies, Anemone japonica, 
and this Senecio in clumps. 
One other mode of culture—namely, in pots, well deserves the 
attention of gardeners ; for though the plants are rather too tall for 
the side shelves of greenhouses or conservatories, they are well 
suited for the central beds, where they produce an excellent effect. 
Wintek-flowebing Begonias. —Where collections of these 
useful plants are grown they will repay the cultivator for the 
attention they require. The plants should now be exposed to all 
the light possible to induce them to flower strongly. Those that 
have filled the pots with roots now require liquid manure, and in 
a cool stove they will afford more (enduring flowers for cutting 
than those flowered in a warmer and closer atmosphere.—W. 
APPLES AND PEARS. 
As the planting season will soon arrive I will give a few hints 
to those who have not bad much experience with hardy fruit trees. 
I shall only describe those varieties that I have found succeed 
best either as standard, pyramid, espalier, cordon, or wall trees. 
Apples. —To succeed, Apple trees require a good deep loam, 
but with extra attention they can be grown well in almost any 
soil. If the ground be poor top-dress with some rich farmyard 
manure, and if procurable add some good loam when digging. 
Some gardeners will not dig the soil nearer than 6 or 7 feet from 
the tree, but I find that where the soil is well loosened the trees 
produce the finest fruit. Apples, however, much dislike badly 
drained ground. The difference may be seen in many orchards 
this season ; those on high well-drained soil being far the best, 
whilst those on low wet ground are denuded of fruit and foliage. 
Some recommend drainage to be placed under each tree, but ex¬ 
cept for Peaches or Nectarines I do not see the advantage of this. 
If the garden is wet it should be drained. The ground ought to 
be prepared for the trees by deep trenching. No manure will be 
required unless the soil is very hungry, as that applied by top¬ 
dressing is the best. I have some good turfy loam ready to place 
round the roots, as they spread into that very freely. Procure 
the trees from a nurseryman who makes a speciality of fruit trees, 
and then no disappointment will be caused by incorrect naming. 
Order early, and have the trees as clean as possible. 
As regards the best stocks for Apples, I find for orchards it is 
best to have them grafted on the Crab, either standards or pyra¬ 
mids, and in gardens also where there is room, as the trees last 
longer in bearing, but do not commence bearing so soon as those 
grafted on the Paradise. Apples on the latter stock should be 
planted between the permanent trees, when they will commence 
bearing the second year after planting. For small gardens the 
Paradise stock is best suited. Two years after planting the trees 
on the Crab take them up and replant them, as this will be of 
great benefit, inducing them to bear much sooner than if left 
undisturbed. 
Planting may be commenced early in November. Be careful 
not to plant too deeply. Pyramids or bushes may have the soil up 
to the graft; for standards 2 inches depth of soil above the top 
roots is sufficient. Cut off all bruised roots, place some of the 
turfy loam at the bottom, sprinkle some fine soil about the roots, 
well shake it in, but do not tread it; place some of the roughest 
on that, and fill up with the ordinary soil. Place some short 
litter round each tree to protect the roots from frost and drought. 
Standard trees will require a good stake to prevent them being 
injured by wind. Some gardeners do not prune at all the first 
season, but I find it is best to do so early in March. 
Culinary Apples. —The following are some of the best varieties 
for succession :—Lord Suffield, fruit very large, abundant bearer and 
of good quality ; succeeds well on the Crab. Ecklinville Seed¬ 
ling, a sure and prolific bearer, fruit of good quality ; it is best 
grown as a pyramid, as the fruit is liable to be blown off standard 
trees. Emperor Alexander, fruit very large and handsome 
either on the Paradise or Crab stocks. Cellini, large and hand¬ 
some, tree a prolific bearer ; succeeds admirably as a pyramid. 
Stirling Castle, a splendid fruit, and tree a great bearer. Gloria 
Mundi or Belle Dubois, fruit large on the Paradise stock. 
Warner’s King, fruit very large ; it is a prolific pyramid or orchard 
tree on the Crab or Paradise stock. Gravenstein, good for kitchen 
or dessert; espalier. M6re de Manage, fruit large and handsome ; 
makes a good orchard tree. Cox’s Pomona, fruit very handsome 
and prolific ; a fine orchard tree. Beauty of Kent, well suited 
for orchards. Blenheim Orange, too well known to need descrip¬ 
tion. Dumelow’s Seedling, a prolific bearer, fruit of good quality; 
a useful late orchard tree. Bedfordshire Foundling, large ; good 
orchard tree. Alfriston, very large on the Paradise, and prolific. 
Dessert Apples. —These may be grown as espaliers, pyramids, 
and horizontal cordons. They all succeed best on the Paradise 
stock, although pyramids may be grown on the Crab, but the 
fruit on the Paradise is much finer and of better colour. The 
following I have found a good selection to give a succession :— 
Irish Peach, medium size ; fruit of good flavour. Kerry Pippin, 
fruit small but of excellent flavour. Cox’s Orange Pippin, very 
prolific ; considered by some the best Apple in cultivation. Rib- 
ston Pippin, well known. King of the Pippins, fruit handsome ; 
a prolific orchard tree. Ashmead’s Kernel, good flavour. Brown¬ 
lee’s Russet; Scarlet Nonpareil, fine late Apple. Duke of Devon- 
