298 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September SO, 1886. 
raised panel of Echeveria Peacocki, which are planted closely together, 
thus affording a sheet of its striking tint of colour, edged with Alternan- 
thera versicolor grandis, thus forming a grand contrast of colour. A 
fourth was very effective, being planted in the centre, about 18 inches 
apart, with Abutilon Thompsoni. Under these was growing thickly 
Verbena venosa ; around this, as an edging, was a broad band of Iresine 
Lindeni, particularly rich in colour. This was quite a charming arrange¬ 
ment. 
The groundwork of another bed was Herniaria glabra, small circles of 
Leucophyton Browni, and Alternanthera versicolor grandis, being enclosed 
by chain scrolls of Mesembryanthemum cordifolium variegatum and 
Alternanthera magniflea. The above are all enclosed in a straight band 
4 inches wide of Alternanthera paronychioides ; outside this are scrolls of 
Alternanthera latifolia and Mesembryanthemum cordifolium variegatum. 
In a sixth bed the groundwork was Mesembryanthemum cordifolium 
variegatum ; Aloe africana as a centre plant, was set in a raised cushion 
of Sempervivum montanum, banded with Echeveria Peacocki, this being 
banded with Alternanthera amoena ; end circles were formed with narrow 
bands of Alternanthera paronychioides, filled in with Pachyphyton bracteo- 
sum, four near-shaped panels of Leucophyton Browni, and four more filled 
with Alternanthera nana magnificently coloured. These eight last named 
panels being banded with Alternanthera purpurea, completed a most 
pleasing effect. 
A large bed, 70 feet long and 12 feet wide, oblong in form, had as its 
centre plants a mass of Chrysanthemum Madame Desgrange, well set 
with flower buds, the foliage being extra good in colour, betokening a 
magnificent floral display later on, with a broad band of Aster bessera- 
bicus as an accompanying pleasing colour to the Chrysanthemum 
blooms.— Visitor. 
CAMELLIA TRICOLOR. 
It is frequently remarked that in the multitu le of novelties annually 
brought under public notice there is a danger of losing sight of some old 
and meritorious plants which are unsurpassed by the numerous more 
recent claimants to attention. Abundant examples of this kind occur 
amongst hardwooded plants, but there also other classes which include 
similar instances, and it is pleasing to see a re-awakening interest in what 
are appropriately termed “ neglected ” plants. 
Camellias have long been favourites in gardens, being valued for their 
rich profusion of flowers, the symmetry of form in such excellent varieties 
as alba plena, and their shining green foliage. They are valued for 
conservatory decoration and for cutting, and though they require more 
care than some popular plants it is well deserved, and the necessary labour 
is profitably employed. Many of the double varieties are extremely 
handsome and superb in floral formation from a florist’s point of view, 
but the single or semi-double varieties are receiving more attention, as, 
with less formality, they possess equally bright colours and are very 
profuse. Camellia Donkelaari is a well-known example of this kind, is 
a magnificent plant in a conservatory, while another fine variety of a 
similar type is that represented in the woodcut (fig. 46), Camellia tricolor. 
The flowers are of medium size, white, striped and flaked with rich rosy 
crimson and carmine. The dense cluster of stamens with their golden 
anthers in the centre render them still more attractive. The colouring 
varies like it does in the striped Roses. Sometimes a flower will be almost 
wholly white, at others the crimson colouring will greatly predominate ; or 
one half of a flower may be coloured and the other portion white, or it 
may come as regularly marked as a bizarre Carnation, but this variation 
increases its charms. Add to this that the habit is vigorous, but compact 
and bushy, flowering in extraordinary profusion, and it will be seen that 
C. tricolor has ample qualities to recommend to cultivators. Our illus¬ 
tration was prepared from specimens furnished by Messrs. J. Veitch and 
Sons, Chelsea, in whose nursery it was very attractive early in the 
present year, a specimen in the corridor near the Brompton Road being 
very conspicuous amongst the numerous others there planted out. 
GROWING FRUIT FOR MARKET. 
Midsbason and Late Plums. — Commanding a ready sale ever 
when the crop is heavy and the prices low, Blums are satisfactory, as thi 
crop m a measure compensates for the lessened value. This year Greei 
Lages are only bringing 5?. per sieve or bushel, but then the crop when 
J. a* P nce obtains is enormous, and that it mostly is, if anywhere, on thi 
limestone and oolitic formations. 
Dessert Plunis .—Belgian Purple, a grand cropper and of excellen 
quality, coming in at the end of August or beginning of September. ! 
nave not found it succeed in cold localities, being much given to gum, an< 
evidently requires a silicious if not calcareous soil. Angelina Burdett 
ne cropper and good quality. Kirke’s, large, capital cropper, very riel 
am good. Archduke (Rivers), large, great cropper, and fruit good for am 
purpose. Ihis must become popular, being a late sort, comiDg in early ii 
UMooer. AH the preceding are purple or black Plums. Of yellows 
enerson s, great cropper and very good ; Washington, large and goo( 
cropper ; Coe’s Golden Drop in favourable soils— i.e., light and warm 
localities, is first class for any purpose. Of the Gage Plums, Green Gage, 
capital cropper and well known flavour, is most esteemed, but Transparent 
is better and the tree healthier ; and Reine Claude de Bavay is a large and 
in every respect first rate. The Gage Plums, however, crack very much, 
even before ripening if the weather be hot and dry whilst swelling, and 
the season afterwards changes to wet. 
Kitchen Plums. —Mitchelson’s, a wonderful bearer, but does not suc¬ 
ceed on a cold soil, especially if having a wet subsoil. In a silicious or 
calcareous soil it is, perhaps, the most valuable of all market Plums. It is 
preceded by Goliath, a reddish purple, and is a great bearer. Prince of 
Wales, another good cropper, the tree not very hardy. Victoria, capital 
cropper and good-looking fruit, and as good as it looks. Pond’s Seedling, 
a large red fruit and great bearer. Yellow Magnum Bonum only suc¬ 
ceeds on warm silicious soils, and is then first-rate for preserving, and some 
think for eating. Diamond, a fine grower, and when a little aged a great 
bearer, and of the highest culinary value. Autumn Beauty or Autumn 
Compote, another fine preserving sort, red and handsome, and a wonder¬ 
ful bearer. Wyedale, a small or only small medium Plum, a very great 
cropper, purple, and a splendid variety, making an excellent preserve. It is 
common in some districts (especially the Cleveland) of Yorkshire, and is 
a very valuable late sort, ripening late in October. Winesour seems to 
have gone out of date. I have only seen it bear at all well in the lime¬ 
stone formations of Yorkshire. 
Damsons. —Rivers’ Early comes in early in August, is much valued 
for that property, and it is excellent in every respect. Farleigh Prolific 
(Crittenden’s Cluster) a wonderful fruiter, and decidedly the best of all 
the Damsons. It ought to be planted in all the hedgerows about farms, 
and then there would be no scarcity of Damsons. Prune or Long, not a 
good bearer until aged, and then bears fairly well, but is not equal to 
Dalrymple, which is of dwarf growth and a great bearer. White is a 
good bearer and late; by some it is considered good. For general purposes 
the Farleigh is far the best. 
Autumn Pears. —The Pears previously mentioned were only to keep 
the supply up to October. I now propose to give the names of those 
suitable for continuing the supply to a late period, the autumn Pears 
continuing to, say, Christmas, but it will perhaps be best to take them in 
the months. 
October. —Fondante d’Automne, fine pyramidal habit, first-rate. 
Fertility (Rivers) a tremendous cropper, capital colour, handsome shape, 
and not big, yet of good size. Its quality on light soil is dry and mealy ; 
on a cool bottom, good. It is very hardy and does not fruit sometimes, 
but every year. Louise Bonne of Jersey, large and good. Beurre Hardy, 
capital, large, and every way first-rate. Thompson’s, a splendid quality, 
but not a taking sort, yet first-rate in every respect. Althorp Crassane, 
great bearer and very good, keeping some time. Beurrd Capiaumont, 
very free cropping and a taking fruit, and does well in cold localities. I 
have omitted the small Pears—viz , Autumn Bergamot, Aston Town, and 
Seckle. They are great bearers and unsurpassed for quality ; also Swan's 
Egg, a fine old Pear. 
November to Christmas. —Pitmaston Duchess, Doyenne du Comice, 
and Durondeau. Those three far surpass all Pears for marketing in 
November onwards, and are what I recommend. Gregoire Bourdillon 
is of the Duchesse d’Angouleme type and better. Marie Louise d’Uccle 
bears freely and is excellent, hardier than Marie Louise and later. Marie 
Louise also forms a capital standard and bears well. The two last ought, 
perhaps, to have been included in the October Pears, but I give them as 
the fruit ripens from standards. Forelle also bears well, and is good in 
colour and quality. Beurr6 Diel I have never once had good from a 
standard. Louise Bonne, this I have not seen for some years. It is large 
and handsome and keeps well. The three kinds that head this section 
have large fruit, particularly the first, and should have shelter, or the 
winds play havoc with the fruit, but not more than others with large fruit. 
As the trees age they are better. 
Late. —These are mostly lacking in size. The best is Marie Benoist, and 
I shall only name Winter Nelis, Josephine de Malines, Zephirin Gregoire, 
and Olivier de Serres, and do not recommend them for cold localities. We 
want larger, better-looking, and hardier late Pears. For stewing Catillac 
and Bellissime d’Hiver. Perhaps I ought to state that Windsor Pear was 
not omitted through inadvertence, as might be presumed from a neighbour 
having told me that he this year had 10s. per bushel for fruit of a 
standard tree. I suppose he had seen my stating in the Journal of Horti¬ 
culture having got 6s. last year for Williams’ Bon Chretien, and did not 
like to see this old and tried friend omitted. I have had it excellent, a 
good sized, fine looking, and free cropping sort on the silicious or shallow 
soils as far north as York ; and my neighbour’s trees are on an oolitic 
loam of about 2 feet depth, with 4 to 6 feet thickness of gravel under. 
On a cool bottom I have not seen it do well, so that circumstances alter 
cases, and not being suitable in my opinion for general planting it was 
omitted. 
I have also a reminder of having omitted Violet in early Plums. This, 
too, was not an oversight. Violet, I am aware, is a very popular and a 
capital sort where it succeeds, which I have only found in localities having 
ihe same strata of soil as described in the case of the succeeding cf the 
Windsor Pear—viz., silicious loams or shallow overlying sand or gravel. 
In deep loams I have generally seen it a shy bearer. Violet is good eitteer 
for dessert or kitchen—a very good Plum. 
Midseason and Late Apples. —It is a much easier matter in 
dealing with selections of these than with Pears, which are far more 
variable than Apples— i.e., are more influenced by soil and climate. A 
good deep loam is best for Apples only it be free fiom water lodging in the 
