M»y 5, 1887. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
355 
- Me. W. A. Cook recommends Delphinium nudicaule for 
culture in pots, and observes :—“ I have some little plants that have 
been in flower in a north house since Christmas, and still it flowers. 
The seeds were sown last August in the same house where it is now in 
flower. It is a pity that this plant should be so neglected. It is one of the 
prettiest of all the class, and can easily be managed with a little extra 
■care.” 
- Replying to “ T. S.” (page 289), who asks for an opinion on 
Strawberry KrNG of the Earlies for forcing, Mr. W. A. Cook 
writes :—“ I do not grow it, but I saw a large number of plants last 
week that were being grown for market, and must say it cannot hold its 
own with Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury or Keens’ Seedling. The 
owner was not af all satisfied with it, and thought it not so good as it 
has been represented. I had the Vicomtesse seven weeks since, they 
were in flower the end of January, and set wonderfully well ; in fact, I 
gathered over twenty good fruits from some of the plants which had not 
been set by any artificial means,” 
- Strawberries in Florida. —“ Strawberries are ripening 
rapidly,” says the Florida Despatch. “ Prices hold about the same as 
last week —namely, forty cents to sixty cents per quart. One carrying 
company has forwarded five carloads this week (April 18th), and expects 
"to forward nine next week. This company has already marketed be¬ 
tween 100,000 and 200,000 quarts, and will handle over 300,000 quarts 
before prices run down too low for shipment. The entire crop will pro¬ 
bably reach a half million quarts.” 
- Mr. Peter Grieve, Bury St. Edmunds, has produced a little 
guide book or manual, entitled “Short Walks from Bury St. 
Edmunds,” dealing chiefly with the history of a very interesting 
district. The principal gardens and estates are also described at some 
longth, with many particulars of interest to horticulturists. 
- An Australian paper has the following on the Taro, Caladium 
ESCULextum :—“ One plant frequently met with on the sugar planta¬ 
tions in the north is the Caladium esculentum, an aquatic plant, which 
furnishes the large Taro root so well known to the Sandwich Islanders and 
the natives of other groups of islands in the Pacific. It is common on 
the Johnstone River and many places further north, and appears to be 
as thrifty as could be desired in those localities. Like Rice, marshy 
ground suits it best, but, like that cereal, it can be grown on well culti¬ 
vated land without much water. Caladium-like, the large arrow-shaped 
leaves rise on high footstalks immediately from the roots ; but although 
•the leaf and stalks are very agreeable to the taste they are seldom eaten, 
as they are used for the purposes of propagation ; these, when severed 
from the root and inserted in thoroughly moist soil or mud, produce in 
six months a harvest of roots. It is estimated that 1300 persons can be 
fed on the produce of a single square mile; but unless this estimate 
represents the entire food of that number of persons there does not 
appear to be much that is extraordinary in it. In those islands where 
it is common the natives make thick paste out of the root, and this, 
under the name of poe, forms then - staple article of diet. The South 
Sea Islanders are remarkably fond of making a patch of cultivation 
somewhere for themselves on the plantations in the north and growing 
a few Sweet Potatoes and their old favourite the Taro.” 
ROSES IN PEACH HOUSES. 
The opinion obtaining of late years that Peaches and Nectarines 
•cannot with full success be grown outdoors has caused many walls to 
be covered with glass for the cultivation of those and other choice fruits. 
That I am sure is progress in the right direction, especially when the 
structure is of such kind as enable the cultivator to make the most of 
our climate, aid in protecting from spring frosts, prolonged wet and cold 
at setting, whilst husbanding the sun heat. In cold, wet, and elevated 
localities the crops of the choicer fruits against walls are, even under 
the most skilled and practical treatment, precarious; for although eleva¬ 
tion has its advantages in comparative immunity from spring frosts, 
there is the disadvantage of a shortened growing season, with a moist 
and cold ripening period. In some localities, however, Peaches and 
Nectarines are grown satisfactorily outdoors. Now and then we see 
examples of successful outdoor cultivation of the choicer fruits. Is it 
in favoured localities only ? Anyway, the cultivation of the choicer 
fruits outdoors is suggestive of degenerate practice. The trees afford 
unmistakeable evidence of a less painstaking and judicious treatment than 
prevailed under practitioners of the old school. Our climate is getting 
colder, seme say, but I do not believe it is in any sensible particular 
different from what it was when our garden walls were covered with 
healthy nd well-trained fruitful trees. 
There has been a great change of late years in the means employed ; 
there is reason to anticipate an even greater revolution in the cultivation 
of fruit. To regain and maintain our supremacy in the world’s market 
the cost of production must be such that goods of greater utility and 
merit are forthcoming at prices that defy competition. What applies 
to fruit is equally applicable to flow r ers. Whether for home or market 
the supplies must lx; good and cheap. A strict utilisation of means is 
the precursor of success. I make no question of simple means being 
best. A plain structure—it may only be a case 6 feet wide or less—is ail 
that is required, because efficient and economical. What fruit trees 
like and demand are light and air, therefore a cheap substantial structure 
is as good, nay, better, than a showy and costly one. It matters not 
what width or height the structure be, the fruit trees must have unob¬ 
structed light. 
' In Peach houses trees are often planted at the front, trained to a 
trellis, and against the back wall. This is a common case of a lean-to— 
viz., fruit trees in front and against the back wall. In case the front 
trellis is low, so that the light reaches the back wall trees unsubdued, 
objection vanishes ; but if the front trees are given the best position— 
viz., a trellis 12 to 13 or 16 inches from the glass, and taken up two- 
thirds or more of the roof, the light reaching the trees against the back 
wall is ample for the formation of fruit buds, the perfection of 
blossom. It is one thing to grow flowers, it is another to have fruit. 
How often do fruit trees on the back walls of fruit houses fail to set ? if 
setting, to stone and finish satisfactory crops? It may be said it is 
easy to have the front trees on low trellises 3 or more feet from the 
glass, and so utilise both—all available space. But what kind of fruit 
is had on the lower half of both sets of trees ? Is it or any fruit grown 
on such trees equal in size, appearance, and quality to that borne by 
trees on trellises not more than 12 inches from the glass ? 
Back walls in Peach houses are put to a variety of uses. There i s 
light enough for the formation of fruit buds, the perfection of blossom, 
but practically of no utility for fruit. Tomatoes are sometimes planted, 
but they flower at a time when the Peach trees require syringing. The 
fact is fruit cannot well be grown in the shade of fruit trees. I do not 
regard Peaches grown beneath Vines so distant in the rods and spur 
growths as to admit light to a considerable extent, evidence to the 
contrary, nor shall I advance anything so foreign to fact as Roses 
succeeding on the back wall of Peach and other fruit houses when there 
is a close canopy of foliage intervening between them and the source of 
light. Modern practice in the cultivation of fruit accords about twice as 
much space to the growths as formerly obtained, and the consequence is 
that the fruit trees have more light and the fruit crops are finer from being 
borne on stouter, thoroughly solidified and ripened wood. Where Roses 
are grown with Peach trees the heat and moisture suit the swelling 
buds and opening flowers of both to a nicety, accompanied as it is with 
a free circulation of air. In short, Peaches and Roses succeed well 
together, the only reservation is that the syringe be kept from the Roses 
after the buds show colour. In other respects their treatment is 
identical—viz., a good strong holding soil, plenty of nutriment, and 
thorough cleanliness. So close is the identity, that the stronger the 
growth, provided it is stout, short-jointed, and thoroughly ripened, 
the finer are the Peaches in size and quality, and the fuller, better 
coloured, and more perfect the Rose blooms, and the similarity is further 
increased in that both Peaches and Roses give the grandest results on 
extensions, or wood that has a season to grow in unfettered by a crop of 
fruit or blooms. 
Success seems to depend on training in young growth to displace old 
and worn out growths. This is best attended to after the flowering is 
over, just as we remove the fruiting wood of Peaches and Nectarines 
after the fruit is gathered, and for a like cause—viz., to concentrate the 
strength on the development and perfecting of the wood and buds of 
future crops. Wood of more than three years’ growth or age ought not 
to exist on Rose bushes, and the younger it is the finer the blooms will 
be if only it is well ripened. What suits the ripening of Peach wood 
suits Roses, and both delight in nothing so much as a thorough rest. 
The removal of the lights suits them. The Roses delight in the autumnal 
rains, and resist the frosts and snow when the wood is properly matured. 
There is only one matter that need be mentioned—viz., the liability of 
Roses grown under glass to mildew, but there is some consolation to be 
derived from knowing that it does not attack Roses in a Peach house 
any worse than those in a house entirely devoted to Roses, and that it 
does not spread to the Peach trees. It readily yields to sulphur, and 
need not cause any anxiety ; only use an alkali for syringing with, such 
as a little softsoap, but after the buds show colour use sulphur only. 
For a back wall the plants must be what are termed climbers. 
Marechal Niel, of course, heads the list. Celine Forestier, Lamarque, 
and R6ve d’Or, all Noisettes and shades of yellow ; Anna Ollivier, pale 
rose ; Cheshunt Hybrid, cherry carmine ; Madame Denis, Innocente 
Pirola, Etendard de Jeanne d’Arc, and Madame Hippolyte Jamain, give 
a quartette of whites or nearly ; Perle de Lyon and Belle Lyonnaise are 
good yellows. Catherine Mcrmet is, perhaps, the most delicate coloured 
Rose to have any colour at all. Our old friend Gloire de Dijon blooms 
as no other Rose knows how, and pleases everybody. 
Some Peach houses have the trees on the back wall. That is none 
the worse for the having of a row of Rose bushes in front. They can be 
in pots, and be placed out in June. Niphetos, Marie Sisley, Sunset 
Madame Welch, Madame Bravy, and W. F. Bennett are good. Where 
there is a number of Peach houses a succession of flowers may be had over 
a lengthened period. A house started at the new year will afford 
delicious fragrant blooms in March and April, and they are none the 
