226 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 15, 1887. 
which, by their position, are entirely distinct from those of any 
other Adiantum. On account of its elegant and pendulous habit 
the charming A. concinnum from the West Indies is also a beauti¬ 
ful object for baskets of medium size. It is only when grown in 
that way that the real beauty of the foliage of the Polypodium 
appendiculatum can be appreciated. The crimson venation in the 
fronds, which average about 15 inches in length, is unique, and 
although it colours well in any place, still the delicate and charm¬ 
ing network becomes more vividly coloured when exposed to the 
full action of the light near the glass, and the effect is much more 
enjoyable when the foliage is seen from below. 
The Ferns used for large baskets in the warm house, though not 
so numerous, are, however, sufficiently plentiful, and all of a very 
striking character. Foremost among them is the beautiful G-onio- 
phlebium subauriculatum, a native of the Malay Islands; it 
should be grown in every stove fernery of large dimensions where 
a basket can be suspended. It has no equal for elegance among all 
the Ferns in cultivation, its graceful lively green pinnate fronds 
usually attaining from G feet to 10 feet in length. I have seen in 
Baron Alphonse de Rothschild’s magnificent place at Ferrieres, 
near Paris, a truly magnificent basket of it with more than forty 
fronds, none under 10 feet long, but with several measuring 
13 feet. When such a plant is hung up in a lofty structure the 
effect, resembling a natural bower, is very imposing. It is also of 
very easy culture, and is not so particular as to a little sun as most 
Ferns are. 
Among the genus Nephrolepis, which contributes largely to the 
Ferns adapted for baskets of considerable size, we note the superb 
N. davallioides furcans from the East Indies. It is a noble Fern, 
of robust growth, sending forth from a central tuft numerous arching 
fronds from 3 to 4 feet long. These differ from those of all other 
kinds by their furcation, which at the base is only rudimentary ; but 
in the fertile pinn;e the furcation is twice, and even thrice, repeated 
at the extremities of the first division, becoming more complete 
towards the point of the fronds, which on account of the weight 
thus produced are more pendulous than those of any other Nephro- 
lepis. The next in usefulness is the new N. rufescens tripinnatifida, 
an illustration accompanying a full description of which lias already 
appeared in the Journal of May 26th, page 420. N. davallioides 
and ensifolia are equally well adapted and frequently used for 
growing in large baskets, which they fill in a remarkably short space 
of time. The fronds of the former species, when fertile, are par¬ 
ticularly handsome, as their pinnae are then contracted and elon¬ 
gated, with rounded lobes on each side and quite peculiar and 
elegant. 
The genus Asplenium also contributes to the list of the basket¬ 
growing Ferns, though A. longissimunr, a species from Penang with 
fronds simply pinnate, 3 feet to 4 feet long, of coriaceous texture, 
and of a pleasing green colour and particularly drooping habit. In 
A. caudatum we have a noble growing pendulous species from the 
East Indies with fronds from 2 to 3 feet long, which, like those of 
the above species, are proliferous at their apex. These are fur¬ 
nished with pinnce of a dark shining green colour, elegantly incised 
and unusually long, ornamented when fertile by two parallel rows 
of very conspicuous black sori. Microlepia hirta cristata, Phlebo- 
dium aureum, the extremely curious Aglamorpha Meyeniana, 
Adiantum Wfiliamsi, and several other kinds also make splendid 
specimens when grown in that way. The mode of planting and 
the attention to be bestowed upon these baskets are in all respects 
similar to those given in a recent number of the Journal when 
treating of baskets for a cool fernery August 11th, page 111, and 
need not be repeated here.— Tiieo. 
CANKER IN FRUIT TREES. 
I beg to forward for inspection a few small branches from Apple 
trees not long ago quite useless to all appearances through canker. 
Jour correspondent, Mr. Hiam, on a former occasion expressed himself 
strongly in favour of the theory that insects were the cause of canker, 
and as a cure relied almost solely upon treatment of the branches by 
pruning and dressing. The branches sent are from trees which have 
been treated at the roots only, no pruning, scraping, or dressing, and I 
leave the judgment to the Editor.—E. Burton. 
[It is very certain the trees from which the branches were cut are 
very far from being “ useless ” now. The cankered parts of the healthy 
examples are healing over in the most satisfactory manner, and the 
growths beyond are as healthy as could be desired. In some of the 
cavities we find insects, but these we regard as the consequence not the 
cause of the canker, and if they do not soon make their escape from 
the trees they will be buried under the new bark. Cankered trees have 
been known to be cured by grafting them with a strong-growing variety, 
such as the Golden Noble, that has infused fresh vigour in the stock, and 
the cankered parts below the union have been covered with healthy 
bark. In saying this we do not assert that Mr. Hiam’s trees are not 
injured by some insect with which we are not acquainted.] 
We are requested to announce that a list of plants and seeds 
available for distribution by the Koyal Horticultural Society may 
be had on application to the Assistant Secretary, Royal Horticultural 
Society, South Kensington, S.W. Not seeds from Sikkim as announced 
last week. 
- Mr. E. R. Cutler, Secretary to the Gardeners’ Royal Be¬ 
nevolent Institution, informs us that the Right Hon. Sir Robert Peel, 
Bart., has kindly consented to take the chair at the annual friendly 
dinner, which takes place at Simpson’s, Strand, after the annual generals 
meeting and election of pensioners on the 13th January next. 
-Oxfordshire Chrysanthemum Society’s Show. —In con¬ 
sequence of the Corn Exchange, Oxford, being required for a large and 
important meeting (on the evening following the day originally fixed for 
holding the annual show) which will necessitate the erection of galleries 
occupying three or four days in construction, the Committee announce- 
that the Show will be held on Wednesday, November 16th, next. Mr.* 
Wm. Greenaway is the Secretary. 
-We regret to state that Mr. Haywood of Woodhatch: 
Lodge, Reigate, so well known in the horticultural world, and Hon. 
Treasurer of the National Rose Society, has met with a somewhat serious- 
accident, having been thrown from his dog cart while on a visit at San- 
down in the Isle of Wight. Although hb is progressing favourably he 
has not been able to be removed. 
- At the recent meeting of the National Chrysanthemum 
Society’s General Committee the Hon. Sec., Mr. W. Holmes, announced 
the death of Mr. David Hutt, who had been connected with the- 
Society for many years as an exhibitor and judge. Mr. Hutt, when> 
living at Margaret Place, London Fields, was a very successful Chrysan¬ 
themum grower, and in November, 1861, he showed six fine plants of 
Pompons at South Kensington, which at the request of the Queen were: 
specially photographed. The Committee passed a unanimous vote of; 
condolence with the family. It was also announced that the number of 
members of the Society had now reached 405. 
- We have received from Messrs. Robert Veitch & Son of Exeter 
fruit of the Dymond Peach grown against a wall in their nursery.. 
This is a very fine fruit both in appearance and in quality. The skin is- 
intensely dark next the sun, and the flesh is richly flavoured, being quite, 
pale or only faintly tinged with red towards the stone. The tree we 
know by experience to be very hardy and a regular bearer. It was- 
raised some years ago by a small nurseryman at Exeter, and was intro¬ 
duced by a Mr. Sharland to the notice of the late Mr. James Veitch of 
Exeter, who first sent it out. 
- Mr. W. J. Murphy, Clonmel, writes —“ Immense quantities of 
Mushrooms are to be had for the collecting, since the heavy rains came 
in the pasture fields of Ireland. Never have such quantities been 
noticed, and it is rather remarkable following the very dry season. So- 
plentiful have they become that I and many others have given up using 
almost any other vegetable for dinner. They can be used with any 
dietary for breakfast, dinner, and supper, and they suit the weakest 
constitution.” 
- The same correspondent remarking on A Potato Trial, 
observes—“ This is the heading of a note from Mr. Thomson, Clovenfords, 
in your last issue, and to which I should like to take exception. Surely 
no legitimate deduction can be drawn from the produce of one tuber or 
one ‘ shaw ’—especially in such a season as that past. Then a‘trial’' 
founded on mere weight is wholly misleading, unless the tubers are 
required for cattle or pig feeding. I have on trial this year new varieties 
of Potatoes from some of the most noted raisers in the British Islands, 
and some of the heaviest croppers I have so far tried are wholly unfit 
for human use. I am inclined to maintain that cooking quality come3 
first in any trial, a less number of marks being given for shape, produce^ 
form, colour, freedom from blight, time of ripening, and any other 
desired special peculiarity. The Potato is a staple crop in Ireland, and 
