78 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Fet)rnary 2,1888". 
for their future growth, both root and branch, and they should be 
so placed that the soil once properly prepared for their reception 
by deeply working it (and if an old garden, a good portion of 
maiden soil may be placed round the roots of the trees when 
planted), after which no further disturbance of the soil will he 
needed beyond lightly pointing over the surface, or hoeing to keep 
down weeds. When planting is being done, the soil, if in a suit¬ 
able condition, should be made Very firm about the roots, which is 
conducive to sturdy growth. Give a mulching of rather long manure 
over the roots, and renew this annually, but when the trees get into 
a bearing state the mulching should be of a more stimulating 
nature—that is, if the trees do not grow quite so strongly as 
desirable. 
Pruning must be regulated by the strength of the trees. If 
strong shoots are cut hard back they Avill only gi'ow the stronger the 
following season ; if only slightly shortened they will form fruit 
buds two-thirds the length of the shoots, and when once they are 
in good fruiting condition the gi-owths may be shortened more 
freely without fear of their becoming too strong. Allow full space 
for the branches, so that the sun has access to the centre of the 
trees to colour and flavour the fruit. The bush form of tree 
appears the most natural for the Apple, and, in my opinion, 
the most profitable ; and if they can have a portion of ground 
allotted for their entire use it is very much better than dotting 
them about all over a garden, where they very much interfere with 
the rotation of crops and the cultivation of the ground. In large 
gardens the borders at each side of the principal walks are generally 
devoted to fruit trees, and then sufficient space is left for vege¬ 
tables without interfering with the trees. But even in the case of 
large gardens one frequently sees fruit borders occupied with her¬ 
baceous plants as well ; but it is not at all times the fault of the 
gardener for cropping the ground at which shou’dbe occupied by the 
roots of the trees. I lived with a lady once who used to look upon 
the outside borders of the vineries, which were occupied with Vine 
roots, as a waste piece of ground, and, notwithstanding an explana¬ 
tion of the evil result, insisted upon having the borders filled with 
herbaceous plants, and yet at the same time first-class Grapes were 
expected. I am here going a little astray as regards hardy fruit, 
but only to illustrate what are some requirements. 
The Pear is scarcely less useful than the Apple, for, with a suit¬ 
able selection of varieties, they can be had over a considerable poi’- 
tion of the year, and the treatment of the one is to a great extent 
applicable to the other ; but in some instances the protection of a 
wall is almost indispensable in the colder districts for some varieties 
of Pears to enable them to attain the highest perfection, and it is 
preferable to have a limited number of weU-known reliable sorts 
to form a good succession than to have a vast variety of sorts 
which ripen simultaneously and are inferior in flavour. Severe 
pruning in a young stage should be avoided, for in allowing more 
extension than is sometimes adopted the trees come into bearing 
more quickly and fill the space allotted to them in much less time 
than when they are cut back hard. Ample space for the branches 
must be allowed, whether standards, pyramids, espaliers, or trained 
to walls in the various modes. Care is necessary and judgment is 
required in gathering the fruit ; if gathered too soon they invari¬ 
ably shrivel, the late varieties requiring a long season to mature, so 
should be allowed to remain on the trees as long as possible. On 
walls the fruits in good season generally set very thickly, and it is 
advisable to thin the fruits considerably, or the strength of the trees 
is so taxed that they cannot bring the crop to perfection.—W. 
Simpson, Knowsley. 
(To be continued.) 
GARDEN SPECIALTIES. 
There are perhaps but few gardens, whether they are under 
the care of the professional or the amateur gardener, where there 
are not among their numerous occupants specialties in some form or 
variety ; and indeed a garden would be considered of little interest 
if it contained no cherished favourites that would be deemecl 
worthy of some extra cultural attention. Orchids form a specialty- 
with some, while Grapes find many enthusiasts ; the outdoor flower 
gardener selecting perhaps Eoses, hardy herbaceous plants, &c. ~ 
the fruit grower devoting his extra attention to Apples, Straw¬ 
berries, or Peaches. There is abundant scope in any branch of 
gardening for the exercise of individual tastes, and this is almost, 
or quite as marked among cottagers as it is with professional 
gardeners. 
In this, as in most districts, each garden seems to have provided 
some object that claims attention in a more or less marked degree,, 
those of Park House, Kingsclere, the residence of J. Porter, Esq., 
claiming premier honours in point of specialty. In this garden 
Orchids are being made the prominent feature, and although it is- 
not as yet in possession of a representative collection, still it is on a- 
fair way towards attaining that end. At present there are no Orchid 
houses proper, the plants requiring warm treatment being grown 
in mixed stoves or forcing houses, while the cooler Odontoglossums, 
Masdevallias, &c., occupy positions in cool houses or pits. It is 
intended shortly, however, to erect some houses for the convenience 
of these choice exotics, then additions will be made both in point 
of numbers and variety. Mr. Porter is a great admirer of this 
class of plant, and spares no expense in extending his already 
interesting collection. 
At the time of my visit there was a fairly good show of Orchid 
bloom, and a promise of a richer display later on, there being" 
numerous spikes of flowers advancing among the various species 
grown. Some plants of the popular Laelia anceps were carrying 
several spikes of their riclily coloured blossoms. L. autumnalis was 
almost past, but had been very showy and useful. Very noticeable 
was the almost pearly white L. albida, this being greatly valued as 
a buttonhole flower on account of its delicate primrose scent, 
Calanthes have also proved useful, and afforded abundant material 
for cutting purposes. Of Oncidium crispum there was an extra 
fine variety. The same remark also applies to Odontoglossum 
crispum, a small 7 )lant being furnished with flowers of a very- 
superior form. There is a good number of this valuable cool 
Orchid, and their flowering is looked forward to with great interest. 
They being obtained from several trade sources are expected to. 
furnish some distinct forms, those already in flower being very 
dissimilar. 0. Eossi majus has been in perfection for three months, 
and is still fresh. Oncidium ornithorhyncum also forms an interesting 
and pretty spike. 
Cypripediums in flower are represented by the old and indis¬ 
pensable C. insigne, some of these having been expanded since early 
in November. C. Boxalli is another favourite, this being remark¬ 
able for its apparently highly polished surface. Among other 
Cypripediums noticed, some of which were in flower, others in bud,, 
were the choice C. Spicerianum, C. Lawrencianum, C. Harrisianum, 
and C. Stonei. Mr. Norris, the gardener, has been very successful 
with Dendrobiums, many of the varieties having made excellent 
growths, and are promising a rich display. Space will not allow of 
the mention of many, but such as D. AVardianum, D. primulinum 
giganteum, D. Devonianum, D. Dalhousianum, D., thyrsiflorum, 
and D. crassinode Barberianum might be named among many 
others of perhaps equal merit. In addition to those already 
enumerated there are numbers of others, the whole of which are 
in capital health, under the same atmospheric conditions provided 
for other plants. 
In another house there are some good Tree Carnations in variety, 
these, too, being highly valued, and are in good demand for button¬ 
hole purposes, several of Mr. Turner’s latest introductions from 
the Slough nurseries being among the collection, the best of which 
includes Col. Cox, Countess Howe, Coronet, and Madeline. Of 
older sorts mention might be made of the following—Andalusia, 
primrose, bright; Phoebus, scarlet; Brunette, maroon ; La Belle, 
white ; Whipper-in, scarlet, with darker stripes ; and Incomparable, 
buff, scarlet edges, very fine, these all being sorts of the very best 
quality. Border Carnations and Picotees are grown in goodly 
numbers both in variety and quantity, these two sections providing 
flowers the whole year without any break in the supply. 
Eoses, too, are treated in much the same liberal manner, all the 
best and most popular varieties being represented, the H.P. section 
predominating. These receive liberal treatment, and are grown in 
a specially prepared border, and during the Eose season large 
quantities of blooms are gathered almost daily, many of them 
being of exhibition quality. These, together with the Orchids and 
Carnations, form a trio of choice plants worthy of being made a 
specialty, and although they are in a measure expensive in the first 
instance, yet they give a good return for the outlay in obtaining 
and providing for them. 
Although I have thought to mention these three distinct classes 
of plants only as specialties, it does not by any means exhaust the 
list of other plants grown in varying numbers. In the stoves may 
