446 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
[ November 19, 188S. 
Fronting New Palace Yard, and almost under the shadow of the 
venerable Abbey, is a small open space crossed by foot-paths, and 
within a low railing are sundry flower beds set in turf, and which during 
the summer are filled with a variety of flowers, Pelargoniums prepon¬ 
derating. The arrangement is geometrical, but much taste cannot be 
shown, as most of the beds are four-sided. The plan has been adopted 
of labelling the plants ; not a bad one in a public garden, if the labels 
are so placed that they can be read.—J. R. S. C. 
RENOVATING OLD STANDARD PEAR TREES. 
Old Pear trees may be transformed into young aud fruitful trees by 
.‘imply cutting the old fruiting branches to within 3 or 4 feet from the 
main stem. Some three or four years since I operated on some old trees 
of which the fruit had become distorted and undersized, they have now 
healthy young bearing wood full of fruit spurs. It is often a question 
with the owner of old trees whether to cut them down or from old 
associations to leave them standing. By this very simple treatment he 
can transform them into young trees. The old bearing wood appears to 
become too constricted and dense for the sap to flow freely. I have found 
that spur-pruned Vines, after seven or eight years, produce small 
bunches which gradually lessen. The same treatment applied to them 
furnishes young and vigorous canes.-—T. Francis Rivers. 
Mr. Shirley Hibberd has in the press a volume of miscellanies 
addressed in the first instance to young people, but he assures us 
that people who are losing their teeth are allowed to read them, and they 
may hope thereby to renew their youth. The volume is to be entitled 
“ The Golden Gate with Silver Steps.” 
- In reference to the note of “ F. J.,” on page 403, we are informed 
by the Hon. and Rev. J. T. Boscawen that he has gathered seed of 
Chimonanthus fragrans ripened in a garden in Kent from which he 
has raised plants. “ An Old Subscriber,” writing from Hampshire, says 
he has a p’ant of Chimonanthus fragrans against a wall occupying a space 
of 100 square feet, which in warm summers invariably produces ripe 
fertile seeds. 
- “ Scientia ” says—“ I believe it is the natural habit of that 
most beautiful of Lady Slippers, Cypripedium Spicerianum, to 
produce annually two flowers on one stem. The plants I possess were 
only small, imported a few years ago, and the first time they flowered 
only one flower was produced on each stem, but every season since two 
flowers have expanded on each stem. It grows luxuriantly under stove 
treatment, and requires abundance of water. It is also important that 
the compost be opeD, using plenty of charcoal in lumps, renewing it 
annually. The pot or pan in which it is grown should also be abundantly 
drained, and the plant rested in a temperature of 50° to 55° for a few 
weeks, say while in bloom. It must not be kept dry at its roots during 
this period, but water should not be given it. The compost used here is 
living sphagnum moss and peat fibre in equal proportions, with plenty of 
charcoal and crocks intermixed.” 
- Mr. C. Orchard, Coombe Warren, Kingston-on-Thames, sends 
us a handsome bloom of Chrysanthemum M. Henri Jacotot, and 
remarks, “ It is naturally rather an early-flowering variety, and the very 
early buds pro luce blooms with shorter petals and less bright in colour 
than the later flowers, having much more yellowish bronze in the centre, 
which is not so effective as the later flowers. The buds should be taken 
about the 16th to the 20th of August if possible. It is a bad variety to 
produce cuttings, but it is a good grower and certain in producing flowering 
buds. It was shown very fine this year by Mr. Lowry at South Kensington 
and the Aquarium.” 
- Messrs. Lucombe, Pince & Co. have a good display of 
Chrysanthemums at the Exeter Nursery this season, this 
year’s display eclipsing any previous one in the quality of blooms and 
improved varieties. About 500 specimens are on view, and these form a 
beautifully coloured floral bank, the front row being composed principally 
of dwarf Pompons, and the unbroken mass of flowers and foliage rising 
gradually to 7 and 8 feet in the back row. All the leading varieties are 
represented. 
- “ The Orchid Album for November contains four handsome 
plates of very distinct Orchids, the general execution, together with type 
aud paper, continuing of the same high quality as hitherto. The plates 
represent the following:— Phalaenopsis Sanderiana, a form with 
large beautifully formed flowers of the P. amabilis style, the two petals 
and the upper sepal of a soft blush or pale pink tint, the lower sepals and 
lip white, the latter dotted with crimson in the centre. It also resembles 
P. amabilis in growth, but is usually [regarded as a natural cross between 
P. Sch'lleriana and P. amabilis. It was found by one of Messrs. Sander 
and Co.’s collectors on an island in the Eastern Archipelago, and was 
recently introduced by the firm named. 
- “ A very pretty and distinct Orchid with the habit of a 
Bletia is Govenia deliciosa,” says Mr. B. S. Williams, and he 
further observes, “ This genus belongs to the terrestrial section 
of Orchids, a group which is too generally neglected by culti¬ 
vators.” He also considers that the chief cause of failure in cultivating 
such plants is “ over-watering ” them when dormant. The one figured 
is a Mexican species producing a slight erect stem with two large ovate 
leaves and a long terminal raceme with the flowers clustered near the 
apex. The sepals and petals are white, the lip being curiously curved and 
covered with round purple dots. 
- The deciduous Calanthes include some of the most useful Orchids 
in cultivation, the vestita varieties being particularly beautiful. A grand 
variety is that figured in plate 211, Calanthe vestita oculata 
GIGANTEA, which has remarkably largo flowers, pure white, with a rich 
orange red blotch at the base of the lip. It possesses “ a remarkably 
showy character, and, like C. Sanderiana, C. Williamsi, and C. Turneri, 
produces its blossoms after C. vestita and C. Yeitchi are over. The foliage 
of the variety, moreover, remains green during the time of its flowering.” 
-A splendidly coloured variety is Cattleya guttata 
WilliAmsiana, which was obtained from Messrs. W. Thomson & Son’s 
nursery at Clovenfords, the whole of the stock, except a plant at Downside, 
Leatherhead, being now in the possession of Mr. B. S. Williams. The 
lip is of an intensely rich crimson purple hue, the sepals and petals being 
of a purplish rosy tint, the petals much darker than the sepals, on which 
there are numerous spots of crimson. The flowers are borne in a strong 
head, terminating the growths. 
- We have received some packets of Gishurstine from the 
Belmont Works of Price’s Patent Candle Company, reminding us of 
coming winter and the necessity for providing against wet feet. Ever 
since this useful preparation has been introduced we have used it, and 
found it of the greatest comfort in protecting boots from the effects of 
wet. But there is another use we applied some of it to, which the pro¬ 
prietors of it may not be aware of. We added about one-third of petroleum 
oil, and in this mixture we rubbed up some red lead, forming a paste of 
the consistency of cream. This we rubbed on wooden labels before 
writing on them with Wolff's pencil, and we have found the writing last 
as long as the label. It soaks into the wood and enables the pencil to 
make an indelible stain. 
- “ Lancastrian ” observes—“ Epacris multiflora is not 
generally known or very plentiful, for very rarely is this variety met with 
in private gardens, neither is it generally cultivated by nurserymen. 
This is to be regretted, for it is doubtless the best late-flowering variety 
jn cultivation. It is perhaps not so profuse a bloomer as many varieties, 
but if its strong upright growths are well ripened it will not fail to give 
satisfaction in this respect. Its flowers are bright crimson and white, 
which render it one of the most showy varieties when in bloom. It is a 
strong grower, with rather large leaves, and therefore totally distinct 
from all varieties known to me. Its great value is its late flowering, and 
those who require good flowering plants for cutting or for decoration in 
pots should procure this grand variety. It is necessary after flowering to 
push it forward, or it will not complete its growth sufficiently early to 
ripen the wood, and if this is not accomplished it will fail to flower 
satisfactorily. It is also necessary to cut its growths close back after 
flowering, for if a few inches are annually left it will not be long before it 
is bare at its base.” 
- Horticultural Club. —The monthly dinner and conver¬ 
sazione took place on Tuesday, the 10th inst., at the Club room, 1, 
Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, when there was a goodly attendance of 
members, including the Hon. and Rev. J. T. Boscawen, Rev. F. H. Gall, 
Messrs. Wheatstone, Loder, Wood, Ingram, Ceilings, Balderson, &c. The 
