358 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. L 0ct0 ber 19 , issa 
manni must not be omitted on account of its very elegant 
growth. It is about 5 feet high, with horizontal pendulous 
branches, and well-dispersed light mauve flowers of no great 
size or merit in themselves ; it is, however, a very distinct 
kind. After looking through a long list, the claims of A. hori- 
zontalis seem to deserve the last place iu the dozen. It comes 
into flower late, and forms a dense bush from 3 to 4 feet high, 
covered with small flowers with a red purple centre and dull 
white outer rays. It lasts a long time in flower, and is not 
like any Aster before described, though it claims several other 
names. 
Besides these there are many curious and distinct Asters, 
amongst which are A. oblongifolius, very broadly branching, 
with irregular-shaped flowers of dull purple. A. sericeus, with 
silvery satiny leaves and weak wiry stems ; more elegant and 
delicate than ornamental. A. sikkimensis, which sends out its 
stems few and far between, but surmounted with good broad 
umbels of very regular flowers like those of a Cineraria. A. 
sibiricus, having the largest flowers of any, like those of 
Stenactis speciosa, but bearing very few of them. A. ericoides 
with linear leaves, and smothered late in autumn with small 
white flow T ers. Two occur to me which I saw in flower at 
Kew in the beginning of August, neither of which I possess : 
A. japonicus, chiefly remarkable for its earliness, and A. sal- 
suginosus, a fine ornamental flower, which I cannot find in the 
catalogue of any English nursery, or I should at once buy it. 
I cannot tell why I have forgotten A. longifolius, surnamed 
formosus (the beautiful), of which I have more plants in my 
garden than of any other Aster, and which I think is generally 
the most admired. It is certainly entitled to the third or 
fourth place in the best dozen, the thirteenth being added to 
compensate for carriage. But those who have an opportunity 
should study the Asters now in flower at Kew, where they are 
correctly named. We who live a long way off envy those who 
have the chance of doing so.—C. Wolley Dod, Edge Hall. 
[The large bunches of flowers which accompanied these notes 
afforded satisfactory evidence of the great value of perennial 
Asters for garden adornment at this period of the year.] 
SELECTIONS OF FRUIT. 
Many owners of small gardens desirous of growing some fruit 
will be much exercised in the approaching planting season as to 
what is best to plant, weighing the merits of various sorts as set 
forth in the long puzzling lists, and at length ordering what may 
very possibly prove unsuitable to their tastes or requirements. 
I for one must plead guilty in this matter, and by way of atone¬ 
ment will try now to turn Mr. Wright’s hint of picking up a pin 
to account by pointing out a few varieties of fruits of sterling 
merit suitable for the wants of a very numerous class of Journal 
readers. 
Strawberries ought to have been planted long ago—in July or 
August, but I may usefully note here a few of the best. By the 
way, which is the best variety of Strawberry? If I name 
President many will agree with me, perhaps more than if I chose 
Sir Charles Napier. Either sort may safely be taken for a general 
crop, and if a very early one is wanted take Black Prince, and 
for a late one Frogmore Late Pine. These three will suffice for 
ordinary purposes, for they are of proved excellence, and will not 
fail. But for a novelty or two, equally good in their way, take 
for flavour Dr. Hogg, and for size Cockscomb. See that the soil 
of the Strawberry bed be well drained, deeply stirred, thoroughly 
enriched with manure, and if at all close or heavy in texture 
rendered sufficiently open by a liberal admixture of coal ashes, 
and there will be no difficulty in obtaining crops of excellent 
fruit. 
Apples for early use in the kitchen will be afforded in abun¬ 
dance from a tree or two of Duchess of Oldenburgh, or say one 
tree of it, one of Keswick Codlin, another of Warner’s King, and 
another of Hanwell Souring for a succession of good cooking 
fruit. If there is room for two more take Small’s Admirable 
and Striped Beefing, and you will have half a dozen of our most 
useful Apples. You may only be able to indulge in one tree for 
dessert; if so, Margil will be the one to plant. It hardly ever 
fails to bear a full crop of its handsome richly flavoured fruit, 
comes into bearing early, and continues doing so upon very small 
trees. If an earlier sort is wanted Kerry Pippin is excellent, 
and for a second later sort Cox’s Orange Pippin. 
Pears are so much affected by local circumstances of soil and 
climate that not many varieties may be recommended with any 
degree of certainty, but there are more than enough for our pur¬ 
pose. Williams’ Bon Chretien is an autumn gem of the first 
water, closely followed by Fondante d’Automne. Plant the first 
if you have only room for one autumn Pear. Jewess will afford 
some good Christmas fruit, and Bergamotte Esperen a later 
supply. But several more are required for a regular succession 
ot fruit, and to secure these much maybe done by planting single 
cordons 18 inches apart against a house or any outbuildings, then 
you will be able to indulge in such delicious fruit as Comte de 
Lamy, Doyennd du Comice, Marie Louise, Louise Bonne of Jersey, 
Dana’s Hovey, Huyshe’s Victoria, Glou Morgeau, Seckle, Easter 
Beurre, and Winter Nelis. 
Plums.—Rivers’ Early Prolific is quite indispensable in every 
garden. Victoria comes later, and is a sure cropper ; and Autumn 
Beauty affords a supply of late fruit. For dessert there are three 
kinds to be highly recommended—McLaughlin’s Gage, Green 
Gage, and Reine Claude de Bavay, ripening in the order they 
are named, and all most delicious. If you can afford space for 
Coe’s Golden Drop and Blue Imperatrice do so, for they are in¬ 
valuable for a late supply of delicious fruit. 
Cherries.—May Duke, Kentish, and Morello are so useful that 
one of each should at least be planted. 
Peaches.—If only one tree is required plant Grosse Mignonne 
—it will seldom fail. If more are wanted, then for earliness take 
Early Beatrice, which I find much better flavoured in the open 
air than under glass. Next to it Rivers’ Early York, and for 
later fruit Barrington and Walburton Admirable. 
Nectarines.—Balgowan is probably the best sort to name if 
only one is wanted. It is a little late, but ripens perfectly upon 
an open wall, makes a fine tree, and is very healthy and robust. 
For earliness take Advancer, which though small is of most 
delicious flavour, then the large and fine Lord Napier, followed 
by such excellent kinds as Pitmaston Orange, Downton, and 
Pine Apple. 
Figs.—The best Fig for an open wall is Brown Turkey, a sure 
and abundant cropper. For large fruit of delicious sweetness take 
Brunswick, and for a rarity often fruiting well upon walls Grizzly 
Bourgasotte, but I am sorry to say it has failed me this year for 
the first time. 
Of Raspberries there is none to surpass Prince of Wales for 
large and abundant fruit. Carter’s Prolific is also very good. 
Red Currants—Knight’s Large Red and Victoria. Black Currants— 
Lee’s Prolific ; and of Gooseberries Early Sulphur, Red Cham¬ 
pagne, Pitmaston Green Gage, and Red Warrington. 
I may add that no Grape is so suitable for an amateur as Black 
Hamburgh.— Edward Luckhurst. 
ROMAN HYACINTHS. 
Hyacinths of all kinds are much valued as winter and spring 
flowers, but none of them deserve to be more generally grown 
than the Roman Hyacinth. It is as fragrant as any of them, 
and comes into flower far earlier. In December it is most appre¬ 
ciated ; the choice pure white fragrant flowers are then of the 
utmost use for floral decoration. One batch of them is never 
sufficient, but a quantity early in December, another at Christmas, 
and a third after the new year would not be too many. To have 
them in bloom at the earliest mentioned time the bulbs should be 
potted at once ; in fact the whole of them may be potted now, 
and their time of blooming may be regulated by their introduc¬ 
tion to heat. A compost of loam, half-decayed manure, and 
plenty of silver or river sand suits them well. The pots should 
be well drained, and only a little of the crown of the bulb should 
be visible above the soil when potting is finished. Sometimes we 
put single bulbs into 2-inch and 3-inch pots, and in other cases 
half a dozen or so are placed in a 6-inch pot. As soon as potting 
is finished the soil is watered if it is very dry, otherwise they are 
not watered, but plunged under coal ashes to the depth of 6 inches. 
Here they remain undisturbed for about a month, and then they 
are brought out to the light, when it will be found that young 
growths have pushed up from the crowns, and if placed in a 
temperature of 60° the leaves and spikes will soon develope. Those 
not wanted in bloom at the earliest date should be placed in a 
cold frame and introduced to heat as they may be required.—M. M. 
THE ROSE ELECTION. 
THE TEAS AND NOISETTES. 
In the general elections of previous years the Teas and Noisettes 
can scarcely be said to have come off very favourably. In last 
year’s table, when no fewer than eighty-eight Roses were tabulated, 
only eleven Roses of this class obtained a place, and these held 
