October 8,1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
807 
main stem one or two ties, and allow the side branches to hang loose, 
which is so much more effective than bunching them together, as 
sometimes seen. Sow the seed early in April, afterwards planting out is 
the best method of growing this annual.—E. M. 
informed me that he saved the crop by watering freely during the 
summer. Have any ether readers of the Journal of Horticulture been 
similarly successful, or are failures the general rule ?— W. Iggulden. 
- We are requested to state that the Canterbury'Chrysanthemum 
Show will be held on the 10th and 11th of November. 
- Choice Orchids.—A mong other Orchids in flower at Mr. 
William Bull’s establishment, King’s ltoad, Chelsea, three very remark¬ 
able and handsome ones are now in blossom—viz., Lmlia praestans alba, 
of which only two plants are known to exist; Cypripedium Saunders- 
ianum, a very distinct hybrid, and one of the most rare of Cypripedes 
(not to be confounded with C. Sanderianum) ; and Cattleya chelseiensis, 
a natural hybrid, and one of the most beautiful Cattleyas known. 
Anyone interested in Orchids should not fail to avail themselves of the 
opportunity of seeing these remarkable plants in flower. 
- One of the most pleasing combinations which I have seen made 
by two hardy plants was with Clematis Jackmani and C. flammula 
growing over the gardener’s house at Benharn Park a short time since. 
The aspect was east ; both were flourishing as well as could be wished, 
for the deep purple of the larger variety contrasted capitally with the 
other. 
-- Dymond Peach is certainly one of the best varieties we have 
for outdoor culture, ripening this year from the middle to the end of 
September with us on a west wall. Small trees fruit quite freely, 
which is a strong point in its favour for owners of small gardens 
who have not the space for large-growing kinds. The fruit is round, 
somewhat flattened at the crown ; the colour is deep on the sunny 
side; the flesh white, rich, and highly flavoured. Even this season it 
is the best outdoor Peach we have for flavour. 
- PlNUS pyrenaica has not proved itself sufliciently hardy to 
•withstand the weather experienced during the late winter, as during 
the last month a specimen 12 feet high died, which has had a 
browned suspicious appearance since the spring, when it refused to 
make growth freely. I should say it was the long continued frost 
that caused death, as this tree was sheltered from north and 
east winds by Portugal Laurel and Spruce hedges. The soil is heavy 
and retentive of moisture, but not what would be called a water¬ 
logged soil owing to the presence of so many flint stones, which pro¬ 
vides ready means of percolation for the water.—E. M. 
- Hibiscus syriacus. —This deciduous flowering shrub, which 
is known equally well as Althaea frutex, is one of the finest autumn 
flowering plants we have. Both double and single varieties arc showy. 
The range of colouring is extensive—in fact, this feature is important as 
providing such variety. The pale lilac changes to purple, some to 
nearly blue ; the pink with crimson centre, the different shades of blue 
.and rose colours arc all Bhowy and interesting. Where the soil contains 
lime or chalk it is useless to plant these shrubs without a preparation 
of peat, leaves, and sandy loam. 
-Hardiness of Campanula pyramidalis.—W ith me there 
never has been a doubt about this plant being perfectly hardy. The 
seed is generally sown in boxes in a cold frame, afterwards pricking 
out the plants in rows in the kitchen garden, where they remain until 
the following spring, when they arc lifted with a ball of soil attached 
and planted where they are to flower. Of course the blooms last longer 
freBh when grown in pots under glass, but given a spell of dry weather 
when the flowers arc ready for bursting, they make a fine show out of 
doors.—H ants. 
- Pear Knight’s Monarch. —There are few varieties to excel 
the old Monarch as far as quality is concerned, but it has such a 
wretched failing of casting its fruit prematurely that this must inevi¬ 
tably drive it out of cultivation. For several years past we have not 
bad a dozen good fruit from a large wall tree, nothing that I could do 
preventing the bulk of the crop dropping off before being sufliciently 
matured for storing. This season a fairly large young tree, trained as a 
palmette verrier, came into bearing for the first time, and promised to 
give us a really good crop. The tree was heavily mulched, and was 
never dry at the roots (a presumable cause of premature dropping), yet 
fully half of the fruits are fallen, whereas they ought to have remained 
on the tree at least another fortnight. The finest fruit I have ever seen 
of Knight’s Monarch were once shown at one of the Birmingham 
Chrysanthemum shows by Mr. Parker of Impney, and the grower 
- Pear Duchesse d’Angouleme. — From this variety we 
usually secure fine crops of large handsome fruits, but the Whit-Tuesday 
frost deprived us this year of the usual bounty. Are the blooms of 
this fine sort more susceptible to injury than other Pears generally ? 
Why I make the inquiry is because other trees and varieties growing in 
close contiguity are bearing excellent crops. From three good sized 
pyramid specimens, which should yield a couple of bushels, we shall 
FIG. 01.—PINUS POXDEROSA. 
not be able to gather a dozen fruits, although those flowered with the 
same freedom as the others. In the spring they were pictures with 
their finely developed bloom clusters, but the frost blackened them to 
such an extent as to leave us no hope of a crop, and that we now 
unfortunately realise.—W. S. 
- A Noble Evergreen Oak. — The other day I had the 
pleasure of seeing the extensive and beautiful pleasure grounds of the 
Earl of Pembroke, Wilton House, Salisbury, and was particularly 
impressed by a grand specimen of the Holly-leaved Evergreen Oak 
(Quercus Ilex). The stem of the tree about 4 feet from the ground has 
a circumference of 24 feet. The circumference of the ground covered 
by its branches is 99 yards, and besides being so large it is most hand¬ 
some. Mr. Challis, the head gardener, a few years back foresaw what 
destruction heavy snow would cause to this fine tree, very wisely had a 
dozen or two of large props put under the main branches, and thus it 
