Jane 17, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
483 
used with care. I also found it deleterious to Strawberries and 
even Gooseberries through using it in perhaps excessive quanti¬ 
ties. The quantity u-ed were in excess of a bushel per rod and 
yet this quantity acted beneficially on Yine and Peach borders, 
nor were the effects other than advantageous in the case of 
Apricots, Plums, and Cherries. I cannot say the same of Pears 
and Apples ; they seemed deteriorated by additions of caustic 
lime, and contrariwise affected by additions of old mortar 
rubbish. For all fruit trees that do not stone or even set well 1 
advise a bushel of freshly slaked lime to be applied per rod in 
the early auiumn or spring in dry weather, and point it in as 
deeply as the roots will allow. Lime has a tendency to sink into 
the soil, but there is no harm in burying the first applications 
rather deeply, as the after dressings can be given nearer the sur¬ 
face. These lime dressings may be given every year the first three 
years, and every other afterwards for a decade, which is as long 
as I have experience with the same Vines or Peach trees. Figs 
will take even more, but Figs like it best in the old mortar state, 
and so do Cucumbers and Melons. Fruit borders from the rich 
surface dressings and applications of liquid manure contain 
much humus, and there can hardly be any deficiency of potash, 
and it may be urged of soda and lime, as the liquid and dung of 
animals contain those, especially potash, in the urine, yet a 
dressing of potash has been found beneficial, but I find a peck 
per rod is sufficient to give of wood ashes, and even less for 
Peaches. Apricots, Plums, and Cherries have the growth 
too much accelerated by potash, and the reaction is not reassur¬ 
ing ; indeed the action of potash seems to be highly favourable 
for a time, and then leaves the trees in a worse plight than 
before its application. Lime, on the other hand, is of great 
permanence,, and it is essential to Figs and Grapes as well as 
all stone fruit. We can of course get all we want out of liquid 
manure and decayed leaves, and in the case of Figs and Vines 
in pots with the run of fermenting beds, but for permanent 
borders lime is an essential of fruit-forming matter, and neces¬ 
sary to the health and stability of the trees. 
Silica is by some means rendered soluble, as it is absorbed, 
at least enters into the composition of plants, and especially 
of the stone as well as stems, and is particularly valuable in the 
growth of Figs, Vines, and Cherries, and Melons never have as 
much solidity in an aluminous soil as in one of a gritty descrip¬ 
tion. Grit, therefore, in soils deficient of sand should form a 
component part in the formation of fruit tree borders, par¬ 
ticularly for Figs, Vines, and Cherries, a sixth of road scrapings 
being a suitable quantity for Figs and Cherries; and for 
Vines, as the soil is usually of a light nature a lesser quantity, 
or a tenth, will probably suffice. Through lack of inorganic 
substances failures in fruit stoning and finishing not infre¬ 
quently arise. 
Culturally stoning is a process that requires time and 
steady supplies of nutriment. If we hurry Vines we get small 
berries and an indifferent finish; if we force Peaches we bring 
the fruit down about our ears, and if we will have Figs earlier 
than usual we must not seek it by forcing hard when the fruit 
for the purpose of perfecting its seed is stationary, but commence 
forcing earlier, so as to allow time for the performance of 
Nature’s work. There must be no check—a close vitiated attno 
sphere one time, and a current of cold air rushing through the 
house the next, a soddened soil one time, and the roots lacking 
moisture another, and no encouraging of growth that will necessi¬ 
tate large reductions of foliage at a time; but the temperature must 
be steady, without great fluctuations or depressions, regularity 
in the supplies of moisture and nutriment, and a steady pro¬ 
gressive growth insured and maintained. 
To insure stoning we must avoid overcropping, thinning 
early and gradually so as to give no glut of nutriment by an 
excessive thinning, but steadily divert the liberated nutrition 
into fresh channels, imperceptibly rather than by impulse, and 
so apportion the crop that we not only effect a satisfactory 
stoning, but obtain good flesh surrounding a well developed 
seed. A perfect stone or seed and perfection of flesh, finish, 
and flavour are inseparable. Ripe wood will stone more fruit 
than wood not near as ripe; indeed we get more fruit to stone 
on a branch as thick as a quill than on one as thick as the finger, 
length for length, bat the one is nearly all stone, and the other is 
marked by a vast proportion of flesh.—G. Abbey. 
FINE-FOLIAGED PERENNIAL?. 
It might be reasonably assumed that we have among hardy perennials 
as fair a proportion of plants with handsome and ornamental foliage as 
among those which require the temperature of stove structures, and though 
the former may perhaps be of a somewhat different aspect, I think it 
highly probable that iri many cases the plants are not sufficiently known, 
otherwise they would be brought into more general use. There are 
hundreds of gardens where the majority of our fine-foliage perennials 
might be brought into use, and especially those gardens which have a 
naturally picturesque appearance. Another reason, perhaps, why these 
plants are not so popular as the fine-foliage plants of our stoves, is that 
they do not receive the encouragement at our horticultural exhibitions 
that their merits entitle them to. It not unfrequently happens that large 
and elaborate rockeries are devoid of vegetation to such an extent as to 
render the huge stones unseemly and unnatural, whereas by employing 
some of the plants I shall hereafter name, the whole might be in perfect 
harmony. Then, again, for isolated positions on the lawn, for damp shady 
spots, or for the margins of lakes or streams, there are numbers of these 
plants which would be perfectly happy, and at the same time assist in 
relieving some previously monotonous outline. One instance more—in a 
fernery, in some shady grove, or arranged as often is the case on large 
sloping banks beneath the shade of trees, there is room for some of the 
more stately Bamboos or Grasses—anything, in fact, that would delight in 
shade and improve the general appearance of the whole, and who would 
object in such a spot to see Orchises appear in the spring time, or Lilies 
during the summer and autumn ? 
The first genus is the Acanthus or Bear’s Breech, in which we have 
many very fine plants. Taken collectively, the group is remarkable for 
its stateliness, and for their large coriaceous, and, in some species, shiny 
foliage. The leaves are beautifully recurved, and the singular flower 
spikes rising to a height of 3 feet, give to the whole a highly graceful 
and ornamental bearing. All are hardy, and are best suited for isolated 
positions on the lawn, high up the large rockery, or for the large 
border. The most distinct are longifolius, latifolius, hybridus, and 
spinosissimus. 
We next find in Bocconia cordata one of the most handsome among 
perennials. It rises to a height of about 8 feet or thereabouts, and is 
admirably adapted for positions on the lawn or for shrubberies. Towards 
the latter part of the summer it produces terminal panicles of peculiar 
brownish flowers. It is self-supporting, and makes a most handsome 
bush, and it may be well to observe it is deciduous. The two genera to 
which I have referred to are both of easy culture, the former being re¬ 
produced from seeds, or from root cuttings, and by division. The latter 
makes a quantity of stoloniferous growths, and is in consequence of simple 
culture. 
The next plant to come under notice is somewhat rare, especially in 
anything like large clumps. This is Cimicifuga racemosa, as conspicuous 
and handsome in its long drooping racemes of white feathery-like flowers 
as it is in its large bitemate deeply cut leaves. This lasts in flower for 
some considerable time, and grows about 4 feet high; the finest specimen 
I have seen being about the same through. Specimens of this size, how¬ 
ever, are extremely rare ; still it is of such sterling worth that it should 
receive every encouragement. It prefers a rich loamy soil and plenty of 
moisture during the growing and flowering season. 
Another genus which contributes species with conspicuous foliage is 
Echinops, all of which are adapted for naturalising, singularly curious 
being the large globular heads of blue, purple, and white flowers; and 
following this we find Eryngiums, which somewhat resemble the former 
group, at least in some of the species. The latter prefer situations high 
and dry, for not infrequently do we find them more severely injured in 
excessively wet winters than in winters which, like the present, have been 
attended with more than the usual frost. This group is also known by the 
popular name of Sea Holly, which no doubt it received from its densely spiny 
leaves. They thrive remarkably well near the seacoast, and are, there¬ 
fore, suitable ornaments in seaside gardens. They differ somewhat in the 
habit of growth, E. amethystinum being perhaps the most hardy in 
general. It is truly a handsome plant, and usually attains a height of 
3 feet. The leaves are covered with sharp spines, the flower heads and 
bracts being of a pleasing blue. E. pandanifolium hath entire leaves 
exceedingly spiny at the margins, and of semi-erect habit of growth, from 
the centre of which the flower stems issue, attaining under favourable 
conditions 8 feet and even 10 feet high, with branching heads of reddish 
flowers. It is when seenjthus that it claims a first position among orna¬ 
mental plants ; and then we have quite a distinct species in E. serra, with 
broadly lanceolate spiny leaves 2 feet to 3 feet long, nearly prostrate. 
This is a conspicuous plant for the large rockery, and quite distinct from 
any other species I know. Others differing from those named are 
E. alpinum and E. maritimum, the latter being the plant usually known 
as the Sea Holly. 
The Plantain Lilies or Funkias include some handsome species. All 
are hardy, and delight in deep rich loam, being allowed to remain undis¬ 
turbed for years if effect is needed. To give those unacquainted with 
their beauty some idea of these plants I cannot do better than compare 
them, and especially the green-leaved kinds, to Eucharis Sanderiana, for 
there is a strong likeness in the foliage of the two plants. Those who 
know the latter may form some idea of the value of the Funkias as deco¬ 
rative plants by extending their ideas to specimens 3 feet across, which 
the larger kinds often attain. Some of the best are Fortunei and the 
golden-leaved form Fortunei aurea ; Sieboldi and its variety aurea mar- 
rnorata ; subcordata grandiflora, which is uncommonly like Eurycles 
australasica in foliage, and not only a valuable plant for ornamentation, 
but equally so for its flowers, which in a cut state are very serviceable. 
For the greenhouse it has comparatively few rivals either in beauty or 
its delightfully fragrant flowers; and, further, I may add that established 
plants in pots force readily. Thus we have a group of plants truly noble 
in aspect and highly valuable as flowering plants. There are many other 
forms smaller in foliage and suited for pot culture for conservatory deco¬ 
ration, but which I will not allude to now. 
