(Mober 25, 1888 ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
383 
just as the new leaves appear above the surface. To insure 
•dividing the plants with as little loss as possible the soil should be 
shaken or washed from the roots, when the operator will better 
realise what he has to contend with. I find a small three-tined hand- 
fork much better than a knife for dividing them, as the pieces 
split off from the main root far more readily than it is possible to 
out them. A direct cut right through the plant with a knife — 
assuming it possible to get the latter through—will result in much 
loss of root, and from this cause I abandoned its use some years ago 
in favour of the hand-fork, and can only recommend those who 
desire to increase their stock of this handsome plant to do likewise. 
In large plants the crowns are numerous, and many may be had 
with roots attached, which should be potted singly and placed in a 
cold frame kept close and shaded till new roots are formed, and 
when well established in the pots, which they should be in a month 
or six weeks, they may be planted in the border in groups, always 
in a conspicuous spot. Some plants, I find, are more woody in the 
rootstock, and have only a hard single stem. Such as these it is 
difficult to divide, but I detach the new breaks— i.e., growths with 
a heel, and insert as cuttings in the usual way, by which means I 
have this year obtained a small stock of plants. It is worthy of 
note that this still little known plant has a vigorous constitution 
and is self-supporting.—J. H. E. 
SOME NOTES ON THE BARK OF FRUIT 
TREES. 
The bark of a stem bears an important part in the well-doing 
of a plant, and it is right that it should be protected from harm 
when necessity arises ; but some instances which have come under 
my notice have given me the impression that even in this matter 
we may be over-zealous. A close observation will show us that 
while some stems, for instance those of an Apple tree, have a 
glossy appearance and some elasticity, other have a hard dull look 
•which is anything but pleasing. The former is a sure sign—other 
respects being equal—of a satisfactory condition, while the latter is 
a plain proof that all is not as it should be. To remedy this latter 
condition some have recourse to the knife, and make a longitudinal 
incision the whole length of the stem. In some cases it is not 
necessary to go the whole length, but several cuts, according to its 
thickness, may be made with advantage. When this is done care 
ought to be taken not to go deeper than the thickness of the bark. 
I have known this treatment prove so satisfactory that I think it 
might be practised more frequently. When a plant is in this bark- 
bound condition it is worse than useless to keep feeding, or rather 
glutting the roots with manure, for the inability to absorb this 
nourishment causes the roots to perish, and thereby hastens the 
plant's decay. Rather ease the bark and feed carefully for a time, 
and it will soon return thanks for the treatment it has received. 
An instance which proved to me the advantage of this treatment 
was a Peach tree which for years made stunted growth, and the 
few blossoms it showed fell prematurely without setting any fruit. 
As a last remedy three long cuts were made through the bark, and 
as each cut widened the tree improved in appearance, so that now 
fine crops of fruit are annually gathered. Since I saw this expe¬ 
riment I have proved that it is equally applicable to all fruit trees, 
and the results on those of a more ornamental nature have been 
most gratifying. I need hardly add that this in itself will not cure 
unfruitfulness, but whenever the stem is so hard that it will not 
yield to the firm pressure of the thumb, a cut through the bark 
will lead to better results than a top-dressing of manure. The Vine 
seems to have a natural aptitude for this bursting of the bark more 
than any other fruit tree, and the wider it bursts so much the more 
fruitful it becomes, and the better able to perfect the crop. 
A still rougher example of this system was brought under my 
•notice in an orchard into which some cows were turned out in early 
spring when the pasture was at its scantiest. They attacked the 
trees, large and small, lacerating the bark with their teeth, and 
.rubbing themselves against the stems, so that in some places the 
wood was bared. Like many others I thought the last fruit had 
been gathered from those trees, but after the cows were removed 
the bark commenced healing over, and although some portions of 
the stem will never again have their natural covering, the trees 
have fruited the same as before. In some cases a decided improve¬ 
ment has been the result. This is not put forth with the dictum, 
' u - Go thou and do likewise,” but to show how far this easing of the 
bark may be carried without fatal results. 
A large Peach tree was for some time a puzzle to me. The 
main stem of the branch on one side of the tree must have had its 
bark rubbed off when young, and had never healed thoroughly, yet 
this branch always set a full crop of fruits which, though not large, 
were of fine colour and flavour. On the branch at the opposite 
.side, which was the very picture of health, the fruits never set 
freely, and yet the buds were always plump and promising. After 
seeing the orchard just mentioned, I cut a good slice of the bark 
clean away from the branch which was unfruitful, but being unused 
to such seemingly barbarous treatment, I cut it from the side nearest 
the wall where it would be less likely to be noticed. After this it 
fruited more freely than before, so that I had cause to be pleased 
with the experiment.—M. D. 
PHLOX DRUMMONDI CUSPIDATA. 
The numerous beautiful varieties of Phlox Drummondi as grown in 
this country are proved favourites in hundreds of gardens, but those 
introduced from the Continent a short time since under the names of 
cuspidata and fimbriata are extremely distinct departures. One of 
these, which has been received at Kew and grown under the name of 
Phlox cuspidata, is shown in the woodcut (fig. 44), and is marked by the 
lobes of the corolla being prolonged into acute points. In some of the 
FIG. 44.—PHLOX DRUMMONDI CUSPIDATA. 
flowers these points are very long, and impart a star-like appearance to 
the flowers. The colours present a similar range to the ordinary 
P. Drummondi, but purple seems to predominate. The only appreciable 
difference between the varieties cuspidata and fimbriata is that in the 
latter the lobes are not so much prolonged and they are rather more 
irregular. 
COMPENSATION FOR ORCHARD PLANTING. 
By Mb. William F. Bear, Streatham. 
It is no doubt solely because of the great interest which, for many 
years, I have taken in compensation for tenants’ improvements, that I 
have been invited by the Committee of this Conference to read a paper 
upon a subject of the practical details of which I probably know less 
than any person in this room. I must confess that I felt a strong disin¬ 
clination to place my views before a body of experts, and if anyone but 
your worthy Secretary, who has been very obliging to me on more than 
