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JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ January 23. 
trees are to be standards they are not touched ; the stem is dis¬ 
budded in the spring and through the summer to the desired 
height, when they are allowed to branch, and in autumn are sent 
out for planting. As standards I do not object to these or the 
principle, as I should prefer these to older trees, and they would 
start better after planting than if left on the ground another 
season. But for pyramids or bushes I do object to these extension 
principles. Trees that are only topped the length given are nice 
round twiggy like plants the following autumn with far more 
shoots than is really needed with the weakest at the bottom. 
These—that is, the shoots at the base, in the majority of cases 
become weaker and weaker, and eventually have to be removed. 
The trees in the course of a few years have a clean leg at the base, 
giving one the idea that at planting time the bud had been what 
we may term dwarf standards. There are exceptions to all rules, 
and some of these trees persist in growing, and the whole of the 
shoots, from nearly every eye, attain strength. Here, then, we 
have a tree that becomes crowded with branches, and eventually 
smothers all inside fruit spurs unless the man in charge knows what 
to do and has the courage to cut away half of them before any 
injury to the tree actually takes place. Let us consider then such 
trees as I have described are planted and left alone afterwards. 
This is extension, and has been advocated again and again. Leave 
them alone is the motto of the extensionist. I once went a long 
journey to see s me of these extension-grown trees towards the end 
of August or the beginning of September. They were bearing a 
good crop of moderate sized fruit, but the branches were devoid of 
that stability that is characteristic of those grown on what are 
termed restrictive principles. I say they lacked stability, for they 
had not strength to support the crop, and with but few exceptions 
the branches arched in a graceful manner towards the ground. A 
severe storm would, I think, have settled this natural system, in 
that garden at any rate. 
Trees to make good pyramids and bushes should be cut down to 
within 9 to 18 inches of the ground ; the former for bushes, and 
the latter for pyramids. It is immaterial whether bushes have a 
centre or not. The Apple adapts itself to the bush system of 
culture even better than the pyramid ; they are easier kept open, 
being less liable to become crowded towards the top. Grood 
management only is needed in either case. The pyramids would 
thus make from three to five shoots, besides a leader. Early in 
August all the shoots should be topped, the leader as well. Trees 
of this stamp have a good foundation, and fruit buds soon 
commrnce to form after planting. If planted early and well, and 
the stocks have not stood too long on the ground, good growth will 
be made the first season. In August again these would be topped, 
so that little would remain to be done in winter. 
Such are a few thoughts on two systems of culture. The 
following of the one or the other may lead to beneficial results or 
the reverse. The one is calculated to build up a healthy robust 
tree, and the other to bring about disease, decay, and it may be early 
death, or at the very least keen disappointment. 
LUCULIA GRATISSIMA AT ORCHARDLEIGH. 
A VERY fine specimen of this somewhat rare trailing shrub has 
been flowering most profusely in the conservatory at the Rev. 
W. A. Duckworth’s delightful residence, Orchardleigh, near Frome, 
Somerset, for some few weeks past, pervading the atmosphere of 
this structure, as well as adjoining rooms, with its agreeable and 
refreshing perfume for which the Luculia is famous. The plant is, 
as might be expected, very highly valued by its owner, putting 
forth, as it does, its unique scented and delicate co’oured inflores¬ 
cence at a time when flowers are in great request for conservatory 
adornment. It covers a lofty wall some 15 feet, I should say, or 
more in height, and extends several feet along the wall, from which 
it is allowed to depend as naturally as possible, so that the flower 
heads can be seen easily from the drawing-room, which has an 
elegant glazed door directly opposite, so arranged, perhaps, that a 
good view may be had of this particular plant while in bloom. 
Quite a small and narrow border accommodates it ; indeed, it 
would seem remarkable that so healthy and large a plant could 
flourish as it does with so small an amount of soil. Water, no 
doubt, is given sufficient to sustain it perfectly, but Mr. I’Anson, 
the practical head gardener in charge, is of the opinion that a 
top-dressing of rich soil given in the autumn just at or prior to 
the time it forms the flower buds in autumn, acts as a great 
incentive to additional and renewed vigour. Luculia gratissima 
has a fame for tardiness in striking, hence, no doubt, the reason 
why it is so seldom found in such structures, for the which it is 
eminently fitted, as plainly demonstrated at Orchardleigh. Few 
flowering plants would continue in so satisfactory a condition in a 
position such as it occupies here, shaded almost on all sides, and 
receiving direct light only from the roof. Separated by a narrow path 
are stately Cimellias planted in a spacious bed, and grown into a 
dense thicket of healthy leafage, and over these are trailing 
Pdssion Flowers and other plants, all in turn obscuring light so 
essential to most permanent hardwooded flowering plants, and yet 
in spite of this, every growth is crowned with a truss of delicate 
blossom every year. 
Though usually considered difficult to propagate, Mr. I’Anson 
has succeeded on each occasion he has attempted to root cuttings ; 
and although they are slow in making a start, the cuttings, which 
are left undisturbed in the original pots until spring, are started 
into growth, both root and branch, when repotted into fresh soil 
and larger pots. Half-ripened growths of the current year are 
chosen, taken off with a slight heel attached, and inserted round 
the sides of the pot in a sandy mixture of soil, shortening back the 
point or growing end to within a few inches of its base, or to 
where the shoot is firm and woody textured. For cut flowers it 
appears to be of little value, but its sterling worth as a wall plant 
is so pronounced that no attempt is made to put it into use in a 
cut state here. When gathered the flower quickly droops, lasting 
but a very short time in a presentable state, but by cutting it an 
hour or two before arranging it in the vases it may be made to last 
some time longer than it otherwise would by immersing it in a tank 
of tepid water. Another fine wall plant in the conservatory at 
Orchardleigh is Acacia grandis. This covers a similar space to the 
other plant under notice, its growth being of the most healthy 
description, and perfectly furnishing the wall on which it is trained. 
During its flowering sea'on it must be a fine sight with its richly 
coloured ball-like flowers, and even without bloom it makes an 
excellent plant for a trellised wall, where plenty of head room is 
available, on account of the pleasing shade of green colour of its 
foliage and the dense character of its growth. This, like the 
Luculia, is favoured with a shady aspect, and has only a narrow 
border to grow in, but a frequent supply of water appears to be 
the only thing needful for maintaining ample leafage and a 
healthy dark green colour, satisfactory results for the labour 
bestowed.—W. S. 
SPARROWS, PRO AND CON. 
The Selbornians have taken up the oft debated sparrow 
question in their magazine, “ Nature Notes,” where it has been 
discussed with some energy, though nothing particularly important 
has been produced as fresh evidence. Mr. Aubrey Edwards urges 
that it is the duty of all true Selbornians to destroy the sparrow, 
on the principle, I suppose, that the bird is a destroyer of what 
should be cherished and preserved, that is the house martin, which 
he believes the sparrow would well-nigh exterminate if he had 
matters all his own way. ‘‘Years ago,” says Mr. Edwards, “the 
house martin, a gentle and useful bird, was far more common than 
it is now, and what is the reason? 'The martin is afraid of the 
sparrow, as indeed most birds of his own size are, and some much 
larger too ; therefore, when a pair of martins have constructed a 
nest, and an audacious sparrow coolly drives them off to take pos¬ 
session for himself and his partner, the uncomplaining martin goes 
away to try again. 
'This experience may happen more than once in the season to a 
couple of martins, and since this goes on nearly everywhere the 
yearly hatch of martins diminishes, eggs are dropped by the way- 
side, or laid and deserted. Nor does the sand martin escape ; when 
its nests happen to be made upon banks near houses or farm 
buildings they become objects of attack. Miss Isabel Fry adds 
that even chaffinches and yellowhammers are driven away from 
some localities by the sparrow, an “ ugly and uninteresting ” bird, 
and she regrets to find that in some counties there is an increase 
of late, due perhaps to migration. Mr. W. R. Riley quotes a recent 
instance of a fact more than once recorded, that when a body of 
farmers set themselves steadily to the work of sparrow extermina¬ 
tion, afterwards insects increased so rapidly that rewards had to be 
offered for the preservation of their nests. 
He thinks the balance of Nature suffices, and that the killing of 
sparrows should be left to the sparrowhawk. No one has been able 
to throw any doubt upon the fact, that all through the breeding 
time sparrows take hosts of insects to feed the young broods ; 
therefore, he says, we must set eight months’ usefulness against 
four or five months in which they may consume a good deal of 
seed and grain. His seed-eating propensities, too, are not limited 
to cultivated plants ; he devours those of many unpleasant or 
injurious weeds. None of his defenders, however, are able to 
justify his conduct with regard to Peas ; the tender shoots braving 
the cold winds of spring are his speciality, and the nestlings are 
taught by their paients to attack the ripening green pods. Nor 
