November 3,1881. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 407 
shorter time, than fruit grown upon heavier and colder soil. In 
my own case I have Blenheim Pippin, which keeps till April and 
May. Cox’s Orange Pippin keeps till loDg after Christmas, and 
Marie Louise Pears keep till February. My soil is a heavy one 
on the Hastings sand, and 300 feet above the sea, which it over¬ 
looks on the south coast. This late-keeping does not in the least 
deteriorate the quality of the fruit. I remember many years ago 
the late Mr. Robert Thompson being greatly puzzled with fruit of 
Marie Louise which was shown at the meetings of the Royal 
Horticultural Society by the late Mr. Moorman of the Clapham 
Road long after all the fruit-rooms about London had ceased to 
have it. This used to occur not at fitful intervals, but annually, 
and fruit-growers puzzled their brains as to how Mr. Moorman 
preserved them. Mr. Thompson was commissioned to investigate 
the matter, and with his usual application and incisive mode of 
inquiry he set about the matter. He visited Mr. Moorman’s fruit- 
room, examined it, took measurements and made plans of it, and 
these were published accompanied with some learned remarks 
both philosophical and physiological on the manner in which the 
fruit-room was constructed. The mystery was thought to have 
been solved, and ardent fruit-growers took to altering and building 
fruit-rooms upon Mr. Moorman’s principle. But it all came to 
nought. Their fruit kept no better than before, and it was not 
till it was discovered that Mr. Moorman’s fruit was not grown in 
his garden in the Clapham Road, but in another garden at Bexhill 
on the Sussex coast, and on the same Hastings sand formation to 
which I have already alluded, that light dawned on the mysterious 
cause of the long-preserved Marie Louise Pears.—H. B. 
HARDY PLANTS—SELECTION AND ARRANGEMENT. 
In describing the chief plants and their arrangements I will 
take as examples the borders in the garden here to illustrate what 
I consider the most effective mode of treating these plants from a 
decorative point of view. This should never be lost sight of, as 
being the main one to work out. On this principle more and 
more of what are termed hardy florists’ flowers are admitted to 
the borders. It is impossible to satiate the appetite for flowers 
well grown and well arranged. I advise intending planters to 
plant most largely old kinds which are well known as being good 
border flowers, instead of trying a large number of sorts many of 
which may be found of no value whatever. 
Commencing with the spring display, which is also that to 
which the most interest is attached, clumps of bulbous plants are 
largely employed for this season, at least for the earlier part of it, 
and at that season there are really no plants more effective than 
Snowdrops and Crocuses, yellow Crocuses especially. The best 
Snowdrop is the double variety of the common form, though of 
course others are grown. A great variety of Crocuses are also 
employed, though the common yellow predominates. Iris reticu¬ 
lata, Sisyrinchium grandiflorum, much finer than its white variety, 
and Myosotis dissitiflora are all beautiful. The various double 
forms of the common Primrose, of which the rose-coloured and 
purple are the most effective, are freely employed ; there are also 
single Primroses in a great variety of colours, but these are grown 
in acres amongst the grass in the pleasure grounds, and are not 
in consequence placed in the borders. Narcissus minor is largely 
used, being early and very bright. Christmas Roses make quite 
a show in themselves, but they are best in separate beds. Many 
clumps of Scilla siberica are planted over the front half of the 
border ; S. bifolia and its white variety are also grown, but not 
in such numbers. Hepaticas again are employed freely, the most 
useful being the double pink variety, the white, and H. angulosa. 
Aubrietias, which we are obtaining in many shades to deep crimson, 
and Arabis albida, are both used to a great extent. The Arabis 
alone makes a border quite showy. Then Pansies, either old 
plants or firm strong summer-struck cuttings planted in au¬ 
tumn, come in with effect; and the dwarf Phloxes, of which 
P. verna, P. Nelsoni, and P. frondosa are the most useful, follow 
closely, and are planted sufficiently thickly to make a feature in 
the border. The large purple and the large white Dog’s-tooth 
Violets are also very beautiful ; Grape Hyacinths, Anemones, 
Doronicum austriacum, and the several species of Evergreen 
Candytufts, with several Daffodils bring us into summer, when 
the flowers come on in the greatest profusion. 
Taller-growing plants then commence flowering, and foremost 
amongst these must be named the double Pyrethrums. Two old 
varieties of singles we have grown, and do not think them so 
showy as the doubles ; but some of the new single forms may 
surpass them. Delphiniums, Lupinus polyphyllus, L. p. albus, 
and L. p. bicolor, Aquilegias, early Phloxes, and Lilium can- 
didum are the finer tall plants chiefly planted. Roses, especially 
Moss Roses, are well represented. Nearer the front are many 
clumps of Lychnis dioica fl.-pl. ; Globeflowers ; Ranunculus, the 
double yellow and double white ; Polemonium cseruleum album. 
Nearer the front still are many clumps of Sanguinaria canadensis, 
Dodecatheons, of which D. Meadia elegans is the best. Pinks are 
thickly planted, also many Saxifragas and Sedums, close to the 
front, with Gentianellas and dwarf Veronicas. Iris cristata is 
also much used. Then very many beautiful plants are found in 
the Bellflowers. Of these Campanula persicifolia alba fl.-pl., 
C. p. coronata cterulea, and C. p. c. alba are most used as tall 
plants ; C. Van Houttei as a medium-growing variety, C. Hender- 
soni and C. carpatica as lower-growing still, and C. turbinata and 
its varieties in the front. We have very many more of these, but 
none so prominent. Adenophora Lamarckiana is used as a 
characteristic plant. Single Sweet Williams are very attractive, 
and the double dwarf crimson variety is a most useful plant. The 
English Irises are indispensable. Iris germanica and I. pallida 
are grown largely. Lychnis viscaria is always attractive, either 
the common sort, the white variety, or the double sorts. Achillea 
aurea is distinct and good, so is the taller Achillea Ptarmica fl.-pl. ; 
and then the Aconitums come on as a great feature, the two- 
coloured form of A. napellus being the best. Sida malvasflora is a 
useful plant. Some of the Geraniums are pretty, but none is 
better than the double form of G. pratense, of which a good figure 
was given in the Journal, July 29th, 1880. 
Then we reach a period when flowers are not so plentiful until 
the autumn brings its stately floral attendants and the second 
flowering of many of the spring and early summer plants. Take 
the last weeks of September as representative for autumn flowers, 
and we have the borders at their showiest. Wind is the great 
enemy of the autumn-flowering plants, rain having comparatively 
little effect on most of them. The stateliest plant is the Holly¬ 
hock, and I am glad to say that I have at last obtained a healthy 
stock of plants from a nurseryman at Hawick, and are the only 
plants free from disease which I have received for five years. 
Show, fancy, bedding, bouquet, and single Dahlias are very flo- 
riferous and brilliant. I have grown single varieties for four 
years, and the only one which equals the doubles is the single 
white which I received under the name of D. alba. Then the 
late-flowering Phloxes, some of the earlier Asters, Campanula 
pyramid alis and its white variety, Delphiniums, Tritomas, Rua- 
beckia Newmanii, Helianthus multiflorus flore-pleno, Gladiolus, 
of which G. Brenchleyensis is the most useful for borders, Alstro- 
merias and Japan Anemones, are some of the most beautiful tall 
plants. Plants of medium height are well represented by border 
Picotees, self Carnations, of which Duke of Wellington is the 
showiest, early-flowering Chrysanthemums, Tradescantias, Aster 
bessarabicus, A. longifolius formosus and A. horizontalis, Mo- 
nardas, Sedum spectabile, Antirrhinums, summer-flowering Cam¬ 
panulas, Chrysocoma Linosyris, Coreopsis, Stenactis speciosa, 
Erigeron grandiflorum, Pyrethrums and Corydalis solida, as being 
the showiest. In the front lines there is not so many in flower at 
this date ; but dwarf Campanulas, Polygonum Brunoni, Primulas, 
Potentiilas, Pansies, Waldsteinia carinthiaca, Colchicums, Achillea 
aurea, Prunella grandiflora, Crucianella stylosa, Vittadenia triloba, 
and some variegated plants lend a certain cheerfulness even close 
to the front edge. Later Asters, of which the best are A. turbi- 
nellus, A. novre-anglite, A. novm-belgire, and A. lasvis. The con¬ 
tinued flowering of some of the plants above named in good 
seasons prolongs the display, though of diminished effect, down 
as late as November. 
I have repeatedly seen the enjoyability of these borders de¬ 
stroyed by the manner in which the plants have been arranged, 
especially as regards the height of the occupants. In another 
communication I will describe the plants in one of the borders 
here, as a means of helping those who are not so well acquainted 
with these plants as to be able to regulate the heights properly.— 
R. P. Brotherston. 
SCALE ON PEAR TREES. 
p Haying- some Pear trees badly infested with scale, and after 
trying several remedies with little or no effect, I applied linseed 
oil. I had the trees carefully painted, also some Apple trees. 
The work was done about February. The result was, it quite 
killed the scale, but nearly killed the trees, which were three 
years before they recovered from the application. During the 
three years the trees grew very weakly and bore very few fruit. 
Some of the trees were painted only as far as the scale was seen. 
The parts not painted were quite visible 50 yards from the trees, 
as the leaves were much larger, and those portions of the trees 
only bore fruit. I wish to caution others who think of using oil 
of any kind. I once applied a weak solution of paraffin to kill 
blight on a Peach tree. The oil only remained on the tree about 
