September 25, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
283 
zest to the “ new idea ” by applying to me the old adage of “ Bad workmen 
always complain of their tools.” I believe it was Loudon that once 
wrote that there was more to learn in visiting a good but badly kept 
garden than there was in viewing one well kept. Failure prompts 
inquiry, lea Is to the making of comparative experiments, and these 
result in the acquirement of a fund of reliable information. Success 
institutes no inquiry, it knows nothing only the bare fact, and that may 
vani.sh upon the first trial under adverse circumstances. 
After a long experience in orchard-house culture, and in various 
loc.alities, it is well to take a retrospective view of what has been accom¬ 
plished through their agency. The most important of these is the fact 
of the great incentive given to amateur gardeners to attempt the culture 
of fruit trees under glass. Perhaps more houses have been erected within 
the last thirty years for the culture of fiuit trees in pots than any other, 
except it be by those constructed for a few plants. Where are orchard 
houses now ? What has become of those large structures that were erected 
in many trade establishments for raising trees to sell in a fruiting condi¬ 
tion 1 What has become of this particular branch of fruit culture ? I could 
name several large trade establishments that each devoted a large house to 
fruit trees in pots. In one instance the house is now used for rearing Vines, 
another for Orchids, and a third for growing Pelargoniums for market. I was 
forcibly struck with the cause assigned for the discontinuance of growing 
fruit trees in pots at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens, Chiswick 
—viz., the success of this mode of culture being established and the 
house required for other experimental purposes. Why not for the same 
reason do away with the Vines in the great conservatory ? I suppose 
these pay. Did the pot fruit trees pay ? Of the many houses that sprang 
up on every hand a quarter of a century ago how many are now devoted 
to the cultivation of fruit trees in pots as originally intended 1 There 
has been from some cause a great diminution in the number of orchard 
houses and the culture of fruit trees in pots. Many expected a pyramid 
tree in a pot to carry almost as many and as fine fruits as a tree on a 
trellis covering several more feet of space, and were accordingly dis¬ 
appointed. 
There is no question of the value of an orchard house, even in large 
gardens, where there are ranges of vineries. Peach, and Fig houses, if it 
be only to grow Plums, Cherries, Pears, and the choicer Apples. These 
attain a greater degree of perfection in cold localities than they do in 
the open, and very valuable dishes of fruit are had, which help out the 
dessert, especially during the last ten years, as outdoor fruits were not 
only scarce, but as compared with that grown under glass, of indifferent 
quality. 
Where there are not the usual vineries. Peach houses, &c., I know 
nothing so useful as an orchard house. Judiciously managed, it will 
afford Strawberries from plants in pots on shelves in early June, Cherries 
a little later. Peaches in July of the early kinds. Plums in August, Pears 
and Apples in the same month of early sorts, and will continue until 
October or later with a proper selection, and a Vine or two over the 
pathway will afford Grapes in September. I do not know any structure 
so useful in a garden, especially in cold localities, as the orchard house. 
From June to October inclusive something of value for the dessert may 
always be relied upon, and these come in very acceptably, even where 
there are other means for growing fruit. Orchard houses are also very useful 
for hardening off summer bedding plants in spring, and they are still 
more so in autumn for housing and affording a display of the finest of 
autumn flowers—the Chrysanthemum, as the fruit trees can be moved 
outside, and are all the better of a few weeks’ exposure, their roots being 
protected from frost. 
One fact about trees in pots is generally overlooked—viz., their 
becoming too large for the house, which is a result generally of over¬ 
stocking in the first instance, but for the successful treatment of any 
trees it is essential that they make some growth, and as a consequence 
they become too large, in which case it is better to plant younger trees 
than permit overcrowding, which soon spoils the trees. In some gardens 
a reserve is kept—young trees growing on, and from these some are 
drafted each year to supplant those which are not in a satisfactory con¬ 
dition, and by those means a much larger measure of success is attainable 
than when there are no such reserves to draw upon, as the house is kept 
filled with healthy fruitful trees.—G. Abbey. 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS IN 1884. 
Chrysanthemums promise this season to be very good, judging 
from the appearance of the plants at this stage ; they are strong, and 
the recent hot weather seems to have ripened the wood thoroughly, 
a necessary matter in the production of finely developed blooms. The 
buds, too, which have been “ taken ” are swelling fast and look plump 
and of good form. We may look forward to a very busy season, as 
there are so many fresh shows in almost every direction, indicating 
well the increased love for the queen of autumn flowers. Connoisseurs 
of this flower will be on the look-out for novelties in the different 
sections, of which there are likely to be several additions that may not 
be any improvement on good older varieties. 
I note several societies are offering prizes for “ naturally ” grown 
flowers, 'a very good way to assist in settling the vexed question of 
dressing ” by giving the general public an opportunity of comparing 
one style with the other, and of course will much please the lovers of 
naturally grown flowers ; but will they be able to distinguish them from 
the others ? After all it is only a matter of personal taste. We wonder 
what the “ National ” Society wiU do this season to merit its name. No 
doubt they will have a fine show, as they offer good prizes, but I thin 
they would have a much better one if they selected another place to hold 
it in ; however, that concerns them only. All will welcome any improve¬ 
ments they make, and I heartily wish them success. 
Mr. Davis’s Chrysanthemum Nursery. —Lovers of Chrysanthemums 
in the neighbourhood of London are likely to have a rich treat this 
season, judging from the preparations which are being made at Mr. 
Davis’s nursery at Lilford Road, Camberwell. He has erected a new 
span-roofed house 70 feet long and 30 feet wide wherein to display his 
very large collection. The house in question is thoroughly well ventilated 
and very light—two great advantages in Chrysanthemum culture. Judg¬ 
ing from the appearance of his plants he is likely to have a very tine 
show. His 2000 plants look wonderfully well—strong, clean, and carry¬ 
ing good foliage down to the pot, a sure indication of their health. Since 
Mr. Davis turned bis attention solely to the cultivation of Chrysanthe¬ 
mums he has been able to increase his stock, which now has assumed 
large proportions, including all the new varieties as they are brought 
into commerce. This season he has a number of seedlings, from which 
ho expects some novelties.—E. Molyneux. 
WHITE PINKS FOR FORCING. 
Reg-ARding this old garden favourite, it may be of service to some if I 
give a few particulars of a somewhat rough-and-ready system of culture 
we have adopted for several years with success. From the middle of this 
month to the first week in October we look over our clumps and choose 
such as are most compact and are then showing a number of small fibrous 
roots at the base of the season’s growth. Some plants appear to emit 
roots milch more freely than others, hence our care in selecting. Cutting 
them off with two or three inches of old stem will ensure having a cluster 
of growths on each piece. According to their size place two, three, or 
four together in a 4 or 5-inch pot, which may form one bushy plant. 
Place them in a shady position or cool frame for a few weeks, when the 
small hair-like roots soon commence growing, and by the middle of 
February reach the pot sides. If the plants have had a cool airy position 
sheltered from heavy rains and frost they may be introduced as required 
into gentle moist heat, and will give a good supply of bloom from Easter 
onwards. Some other Pinks may be flowered under the same treatment, 
though not quite so early, nor are they so valuable as the old white.— 
E. Burton. 
The Neil Prize. — We are informed that Mr. W. Young, the 
well-known Assistant Secretary of the Royal Caledonian Horticultural 
Society, has been awarded the Neil prize of £40. This prize is awarded 
triennially to noted horticulturists, and has been held, among others, 
by the Messrs. Thomson and Mr. Webster of Gordon Castle. 
- A Gardener sends the three following notes on Roses :— “ At 
this season of the year a large bed of the Chinese Rose Cramoisie 
SUPERIEURE, colour brilliant rich crimson, is very effective. If it is 
grown on its own roots there need be no fear of it being destroyed by 
frost if the surface of the bed receive a good dressing of long manure 
about December. It produces vigorous shoots from the base, which 
bloom beautifully in September. 
- “ Miniature Roses. —Miniature Roses, or Rosa polyantha as 
they are sometimes termed, are very useful either for growing in pots or 
beds. We have grown the following three varieties, and have found 
them very useful for buttonholes, as they are very light and elegant. 
Pacquerette, pure white ; Mignonette, light pink ; and Anna Maria de 
Montravel, white. 
- “ Austrian Briars. —The different varieties of Austrian Briars 
are very useful for growing in shrubbery borders. Harrisonii and the 
Persian Yellow are the best. They do not require any pruning beyond 
the first year or two; if this is not attended to they are apt to become 
top-heavy.” 
- Charlotte Rothschild Pine Apple. —Mr. J. Muir, Margam, 
writes :—“ This I regard as one of the best of all Pine Apples. It is a 
good all-the-year-round variety, as it swells up handsomely at all times, 
and the flavour, which is the main point in all productions for the table, 
is first-rate in winter and summer.” 
-Hyacinthus candicans.— “M. M.” says—“ This is most effective 
for the shrubbery. One day lately I saw some splendid specimens of it, 
