146 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 14,1884. 
its flowers with us are not produced for long after the present date, 
and then when the pseudo-bulbs are firm, ripe, and destitute of 
foliage, the other being evergreen during the flowering season. From 
the latter we have had two crops of flowers in the year by subjecting 
the plants to only a short period of rest, and then starting them 
again in brisk heat, but with the other variety this cannot be accom¬ 
plished. We do not recommend this course of treatment, for it soon 
proves exhaustive, and the plants only make weak pseudo-bulbs. 
After flowering this varietj’- is very liable to commence activity again, 
and will do so unless every precaution is taken to prevent it. When 
this ceases to flower for the season water should be gradually with¬ 
held from the roots, and the plant or plants removed fromt he stove 
to a lighter, cooler, and drier atmosphere in order to bring the growth 
to a standstill. Under artificial treatment this Denbrobium has a 
tendency to grow after flowering if kept in a close warm atmosphere, 
and under a continual system of activity soon exhausts itself. We 
can scarcely expect anything else if the plant is allowed to make 
and complete its g/owth during the worst months of the year. This 
Orchid may, without the slightest injury, be kept as dry at the root 
and as cool during the season of rest as any other Dendrobe. A 
good season of rest is the secret of obtaining strong vigorous growth 
the following season. During the active growth this luxuriates in 
heat and moisture, and should be shaded only from bright sunshine. 
Plenty of light and a good circulation of air are the conditions under 
which stout firm growth is made and abundance of flowers are pro¬ 
duced. The syringe should be liberally used, or red spider will 
establish itself upon the foliage, and very soon arrest the growth. 
Abundance of water is also needed at the root. It does best in a 
basket in peat fibre, lumps of charcoal, and sphagnum moss. 
WATERING PLANTS. 
This has certainly been, and is still, a season when a few lessons may 
be learned in watering plants. I am very glad to see attention called 
to this important matter, and I trust many a young gardener will think 
seriously over the matter ; indeed, it is not saying too much, as your able 
correspondent, “ Thinker,” points out, that every good waterer should be 
able to think through a bushel of soil. It must not be taken for granted 
that all young men are alike. They are not all bad waterers, therefore 
those head gardeners who happen to possess a good one should treat him 
as they would like to be treated and try to keep him. Everyone must 
have a learning, and I can say for one that out of many I have had I 
could generally get them into my way of watering in a few short lessons. 
I daresay if it were possible to read all the whys and wherefores of good 
and bad watering we should find that thoughtlessness was at the bottom 
of it in nine cases out of every dozen. For instance, how often do we fin d 
young men dabbing their finger tops into the surface of the soil of pot 
plants with the idea that they can ascertain whether it is wet or dry. I 
have often rebuked men for this, and I think deservedly, as nothing can 
grow in soil rendered like a rabbit’s run with the constant dabbing of 
one’s fingers ; better far lift the pot up and think through it, or else rap 
it hard with the knuckles. Even if the pot does prove harder, the 
knuckles will soon harden to the work. 
If I were going to water one or more houses of plants I should first 
take out half a dozen or so at one end, place them out of the way till I 
had turned every plant round on the stage and “ thought ” a little, and 
perhaps rapped the pots, and if necessary watered them ; those taken out 
where I began would be put up to fill my open space at the end where I 
should finish. 
For my part I like to do watering in the evening in summer, while in 
winter I prefer the middle of the morning ; but it matters little when it is 
done, provided it is done at the proper time with proper care. It is 
impossible to gain sufficient knowledge in the art of watering plants in 
pots by reading, but I am sure much good would come from a few notes 
by those best able to give them.—G. M. W. 
MUSCAT TROVEREN AND OTHER GRAPES. 
I HAVE not had much experience with this Grape, but know enough 
about it to be in a position to give an opinion as to its merits as a table 
or exhibition variety. With me it grew fairly strong under similar 
treatment to that given to Foster’s Seedling and Madresfield Court, but 
proved less prolific than either. It is more the Frontignan than 
Muscat type, and though much liked as a dessei*t”‘^uit on account of its 
brisk and refreshing flavour, is far from being a good exhibition Grape. 
Against Muscat of Alexandria, if the latter be fairly well grown, it would 
have no chance, but should be entered in the classes either for Frontignan 
varieties or for any white Grape exclusive of Muscat of Alexandria. 
The comparative smallness of the berries and the colour are defects, the 
berries being of different sizes, and varying still more in colour. Some 
of the berries were of a good amber, and enough to spoil the bunch of a 
dirty brown appearance. Those who possess a stock of fruiting or 
planting canes of this variety are naturally disposed to highly recommend 
it to purchasers, but it is not a popular Grape, and never will be, 
Venn’s Black Muscat is now generally considered identical with the 
Muscat Hamburgh, and the variety under either synonym is not 
extensively grown. The experience your correspondent “A. J. B.” has 
had with it does not differ from that of nearly all who have given it a 
trial. The perfect examples of it when first exhibited by Mr. Venn 
at one of the great Birmingham Shows, I forget which, caused quite a 
sensation among the many noted fruit-growers there assembled. All 
that I am acquainted with order a Vine or Vines of it from the grower, 
and all soon discovered that Venn’s Black Muscat was only another 
name for Muscat Hamburgh. The latter is perhaps the most fickle and 
difficult to cultivate of any Grape we have, and even Mr, Venn baa 
completely failed with it. Very rarely indeed do we see a well-set fair¬ 
sized bunch. On the contrary, in most cases at least half of the berries 
are small and stoneless, this altogether spoiling the appearance of an 
otherwise most valuable Grape. As a rule it colours perfectly, and I 
consider a stand of it in really good condition should be preferred to any 
other black variety shown against it, so superior is it in quality to all 
others. As it is a fairly strong grower it would form a good stock for 
any Grape, whether black or white, 
“ A. J. B.” states he has “ some good Black Muscats growing near 
Venn’s.” Muscat Hamburgh is sometimes called Blaek Muscat, but I 
presume his is Mrs. Pince’s Black Muscat. In this case he is fortunate in 
possessing a really useful variety, and supposing his bunches and berries 
are of good average size and well finished, I should say they would be 
preferred by the judges to any other late black variety of somewhat the 
same size and finish. I add the latter condition, as in all cases where 
exceptional fine examples of somewhat inferior quality are staged the 
judges cannot well pass over these in favour of examples of better sorts, 
though not so well grown. Mrs. Pince seems to colour remarkably well 
when ripened or forced early. Some of the best finished examples of it I 
have yet seen were shown at local shows early in July by Mr. L. Barnes, 
gardener to the late Lady Herschel, Collingwood, Hawkhurst, Kent, and 
I believe he has exhibited them in similarly good condition at about the 
same time ether previous years. This persevering gardener coneeived 
the idea of turning a rod of Mrs. Pince into the early variety, the other 
half of the Vine being fruited in a later house with the most satisfactory 
result. More often than not Mrs. Pinee is exhibited in fairly good 
condition, only the berries are not unfrequently “ foxy red ” instead of 
black. It appears, however, to be gaining in constitution, and as a 
consequence it colours much better than formerly.—W. Iggulden. 
FINE CONIFERS. 
"We have some fine specimens here. Araucaria imbricata, planted 
about forty years ago, stands 40 feet in height. It has twenty-four tiers of 
branches, the lowest of whieh is lying on the surface bedded in the grass 
and moss, and is beautifully green and healthy. Each branch of the 
lowest tier measures 10 feet from the stem to the tip ; the stem measures 
3^ feet in eircumference 3 feet from the ground. I believe it is a male 
plant, and I have never known it to bear cones. 
Cryptomeria japonica, planted at the same time as the Araucaria, 
stands 35 feet in height ; it would have been much higher but it lost 
3 feet of its top about five or six years ago. The stem measures 4 feet in 
circumference 3 feet from the ground, and the lowest branches, which 
are lying on the surface, measure 12 feet from the stem to the tip. The 
two trees mentioned I consider very fine specimens. If any of your 
readers know of larger I should be glad to hear of them. — Thomas 
Leslie, The Gardens, Ardarroch, Oareloch Head, Dunibartonshire, N.B. 
PRUNES PISSARDL 
We exhibited this new purple-leaved Plum early in the season 
(grafted under glass) at Kensington, and the Committee desired to see it 
again, which they did in examples from Messrs. Veitch & Sons, to whom 
they awarded a certificate. We consider it a great addition to purple¬ 
leaved shrubs and trees, as both in and out of doors it retains its fine 
colour, and does not burn, as many of these coloured-foliaged trees do. 
The grafted plants under glass have stood all the scorching sun outside 
without any injury, and are in good order to the base ; but those on 
standards in the open are very telling. The young growth, being semi¬ 
transparent, is very taking in full sunshine, and while making fresh 
growth the old leaves retain their rich claret colour, and some dwarfs in a 
bed of Silver Maples are very conspicuous.— George Bunyaed & Co., 
Maidstone, 
THE ROSE ACACIA. 
This fine old shrub is a great favourite with many persons, but that 
it is a stranger to large numbers was abundantly proved at the Richmond 
Show a few weeks ago. Messrs. C. Lee & Son there exhibited a remark¬ 
ably handsome group of variegated shrubs and trees, and amongst them 
were introduced some large clusters of the bright and beautiful Rose 
Acacia, Robinia hispida. The branches shown were loaded with flowers 
of a most charming rich rose colour, and there was certainly no one 
exhibit which awakened such general admiration as this. The inquiries 
concerning it were most numerous, and the comparative few who knew it 
gladly welcomed it as an old friend. 
Robinia hispida is a most valuable garden plant, and as a standard it 
has a fine appearance, forming compact heads and bearing immense 
numbers of loose racemes. It is usually grafted on seedling stocks of the 
common[Locust, Robinia pseudacacia, and is generally preferred in that 
