492 
JOURNAL OF H0RTICUL1URE AND COTTAGE GARDENER . 
[ December 3, 1885. 
case of Apricot failure where there is reason to suspect this insect may be 
concerned I would like to know abjut it.” 
- An interesting description of a hybrid Palm was recently given 
in the “ Revue Horticole,” by M. Carrifire. It appears that a cross was ob¬ 
tained some time ago between Chamierops humilis and Phoenix dactylifera, 
the former being the seed-bearing patent. This was named Microplcenix 
decipiens, and when it flowered it was crossed with Chamaerops excelea, 
thus making the hybrid the seed parent. This experiment also proved 
successful, for plants of an intermediate character have been raised, upon 
which the name Microphcenix Sahuti has been bestowed in honour of the 
raiser, M. Sahut of Montpelier. 
- The Tropical Agriculturist remarks:—“The good people at 
home seem to be uncommonly bothered by the two products CACAO and 
COCOA NOT. An English firm, who have made a specialty of ‘ Ceylon 
chocolate,’ illustrate their advertisements of it with the picture of a man 
climbing a Cocoanut Palm and throwing Cacao Beans down to the 
gatherers below!” 
- Mr. R. Morse, The Lodge, Cotbam House, Tyndalls Park, 
Clifton, Bristol, writes :—“Allow me to correct a mistake in the report of 
the Bristol Chrysanthemum Show in the Journal of last week. It 
vis stated that table plants were shown in great numbers, the majority of 
-them being highly meritorious. Mr. W. Bannister, gardener to H. St. 
Vincent Ames, Esq., was first. It should have been Mr. R. Morse, 
gardener to S. Budgetts, Esq., first, Mr. Bannister not being awarded a 
prize in the class for table plants.” 
- A correspondent writes to an Indian paper as follows on 
Wooden Labels for Trees :— “ The following method of preserving 
wooden labels that are to be used on trees or in exposed places is recom¬ 
mended :—Thoroughly soak the pieces of wood in a strong solution of 
sulphate of iron ; then lay them, after they are dry, in lime water. This 
causes the formation of sulphate of lime, a very insoluble salt, in the wood. 
The rapid destruction of the labels by the weather is thus prevented. 
Bass mats, twine, and other substances U6ed in tying or covering up trees 
or plants, when treated in the same manner, are similarly preserved. At a 
recent meeting of the Horticultural Society in Berlin wooden labels thus 
"treated were shown which had been constantly exposed to the weather 
■during two years without being affected thereby.’’ 
- In a colonial contemporary Mr. J. E. Taylor, Editor of “ Science 
Gossip,” thus refers to the Bracken Fern in Australia This 
seems to be as great a nuisance to the agriculturist of these parts as 
the rabbits are to the squatter. The rich volcanic soils feed it well, 
and it spreads and developes accordingly. It costs a good deal, both 
in trouble and money, to keep it down. Burning the Fern only seems 
to make it grow more luxuriantly next year; chopping the ‘roots’ 
apparently tends to spread it. The so-called ‘root’ of the bracken is 
in reality an underground stem, or rhizome, the same part which in 
the Tree Fern we regard as the trunk. Within this stem, under ground 
or above ground, there is stored each year a supply of starch and other 
piant food. Every year’s fronds contribute to the supply. The young 
opening fronds draw upon the vegetable banking account until they 
are fully developed, and then they repay the parent by contributing 
towards the stored-up supply in the stem. It is evident, therefore, that 
if we cut or mow down the young, half-ceiled fronds of the bracken, 
just at the time when they are developing, and when they have been 
abstracting the nourishment from the stem, the latter will be impove¬ 
rished. If we mow them down year by year the stems must wither 
and die. This may seem a rather tedious process, but in a few years 
it would prove an effective one,” 
WELLINGTONIA GIGANTEA. 
This noble tree is well known in many gardens, but it is more 
frequently seen in extensive pleasure grounds than in small gardens, and 
there is no reason it should not be planted in both of these as much as in 
the former. Some Conifers and trees are more suitable for open positions 
than others, as they have a habit of spreading more than ascending, but 
the Wellingtonia is not one of these, as it is really narrow in its pro¬ 
portions at the base, considering its height. We have some old and 
young trees of it here, and both are very ornamental. The largest is 
nearly 60 feet in height, and its stem 3 feet from the ground is 13 feet 
0 inches in circumference. Two years ago this specimen produced many 
clusters of cones near the top, but these have fallen, and recently numbers 
of cones have formed on the lower branches. There is another specimen 
a short way from this, equally high, but not so thick, and it is sterile. 
Both of these have had the shelter of other trees for a considerable time, 
or indeed throughout all their young days, but for some years past their 
props have shot above this protection, and as they are now subject to 
some strong gales from the sea I fear they will not go much higher. 
The young specimens were planted by Royalty four years ago. They 
were 18 inches high when planted. One is now 6 feet 6 inches, and the 
other 9 inches less. From this it will be seen they grow moderately 
quick, and from first to last they retain a beautiful symmetrical outline 
and conical form. It would be unwise to plant them so near the edge of 
a walk that the branches would intrude in a few years, but if they are 
kept 10 feet or so from the edge there is little danger of their doing this. 
They are not over-particular as to soil, but succeed best in a deep loam, 
or position free from a predominance of stones. I have seen some very 
good specimens growing in ordinary garden soil.—J. MUIR, Margam. 
PEAR TREES AT CARDIFF CASTLE. 
When on a visit to Cardiff Castle gardens, over which Mr.^A. 
Pettigrew presides with such marked ability, we were very much im¬ 
pressed with the fine healthy appearance of the Pear trees, and the con¬ 
clusion self and party of practical gardeners arrived at was, that taking 
all things into consideration a finer lot of trees could not well be found. 
For my part, I very much question whether another such a collection 
of about the same age is to be seen in this country, and as Mr. Pettigrew 
kindly favoured me with a few of the principal details of his practice 
with them, those I now place before the readers of the Journal of Horti¬ 
culture. The kitchen garden walls are furnished with horizontally 
trained trees, while several of the long open borders are occupied with 
rows of pyramids, and in each case there was much to admire, especially 
seeing it had only taken ten years to bring them to such a profitable size. 
Mr. Pettigrew started with maidens, or unpruned and untrained trees, in 
each instance, those intended for pyramids being planted at a distance of 
6 feet from the Box edging, and 14 feet apart. Early in the winter they 
were cut down to within 18 inches of the ground, and in the following 
spring they broke well, eventually ripening from three to four strong 
shoots, which were shortened at the early winter pruning to 2 feet from 
where they started, leaving the central or leading shoot a little longer 
than the others. This system of pruning was practised, leaving more or 
less growth according to circumstances, till the trees were well furnished, 
after which all the growths not required to fill the tree were spurred in 
regularly at the autumn pruning, but the principal branches are not 
shortened unless badly ripened, in which case the plan is to cut to a good 
bud. 
It may here be stated that Mr. Pettigrew does not favour the practice 
of constantly pinching and stopping the young shoots during the summer, 
but to quote his own words, “ all the pruning of pyramids is done, if 
possible, in the autumn and before the new year,” and he further added 
that “ the trees have been in fioe bearing condition for some years, and 
all that is required to insure good crops is good weather when they are 
in flower.” That his practice is the right one anyone who has seen the 
trees must admit, and at the time of my visit many of those grand 
specimens were so heavily cropped as to need props to support the prin¬ 
cipal branches. 
The trees are planted in sorts, or from three to nine of each, and they 
have grown from 12 feet to 20 feet in height, and from 5 feet to 12 feet in 
diameter, each tree in a good season being capable of perfecting from 3 to 
5 bushels of fine fruit. The following are the principal sorts grown, 
with the dimensions of a few of them—The trees of Pitmaston Duchess 
are among the best in the garden, each of the nine trees averaging 20 feet 
in height, and 12 feet through near the ground. They flower very freely 
every year, but generally get nipped by the frost, the consequence being 
rather short crops of very large fruit. On a south wall it crops remark¬ 
ably well, and the fruit are found of excellent flavour. Williams’ Bon 
ChrSlien have attained a height of 14 feet, and are 6 feet through, the 
trees rarely failing to bear well. Beurre Clairgeau is of columnar habit, 
growing to a height of 14 feet, and only 5 feet through. It is not found 
a good bearer as a pyramid, but is an enormous cropper on a south wall, 
though the variety scarcely merits so good a position. GIou Morgeau is 
about 14 feet high and 8 feet through, and is fairly profitable as a 
pyramid, while Easter Beurre has attained a height of 10 feet and 6 feet 
in dianeter. There are several very handsome trees of Louise Bonne of 
Jersey, and these are about 10 feet high and 8 feet through. It is found 
to be one of the most free-bearing sorts in cultivation, besides being 
handsome and of excellent quality. Marie Louise Neaville has grown 
to a height of 10 feet, and about 8 feet in diameter, generally bearing well. 
Beurrd Superfin also forms a good pyramid, and is very free-bearing and 
good in quality. These trees are about 10 feet high and 6 feet through. 
Duchesse d’Angouletne, another free-bearing sort, is 12 feet high and as 
much through, while Beurre Diel has attained a height of 20 feet and 
8 feet through, usually cropping well. Beurr6 d’Amanlis are about 
12 feet high and 10 feet through, and is a wonderful cropper, the quality 
also being much liked. Jargonelle this season perfected enormous crops, 
and these trees are 14 high and 10 feet through. Marie Louise has 
grown to a height of about 12 feet, and about 10 feet in diameter. The 
six trees of Bergamotte Esperen are fully 12 feet high and 8 feet through, 
and this was also carrying exceptionally heavy crops. This does not com¬ 
plete the list of varieties grown as pyramids, but enough are given to 
enable my readers to form some idea of the style of trees so rapidly 
created. 
For furnishing the walls, 12 feet iu height, the maidens were planted 
21 feet apart, and the whole of the space is now occupied. They were 
