304 
JOURNA'L OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
September 17, ISW 
Eriocnema SandercB (F. Sander & Co.) —This ornamental foliaged 
plant bears a resemblance to some of the Bertolonias. The leaves are 
brownish green, striped and spotted silvery grey (award of merit). 
Gladiolus Little Dorrit (^QxxrveW k. Oo.'). —A handsome variety with 
large white blooms, the lower half of which is marked with purple 
(award of merit). 
Gladiolus Muriel (Burrell & Co.).—The colour of this variety is 
rich red, marked with brown, with a pure white throat (award of merit). 
Gladiolus Cygnet (Burrell & Co.).—This is a very beautiful variety, 
with creamy white blooms faintly flushed with rose (award of merit). 
nolly Laiosoniana (Paul & Son).—This variety has large leaves, 
having scarcely any pricks, of a very dark green colour patched with 
yellow (first-class certificate). 
Lcelio-Caitleya Nysa var. picta (J. Veitch & Sons).—This is a distinct 
form, the lip being of unusually rich velvety crimson colour, and the 
sepals and petals pale rose (award of merit). 
Lcelio-Cattleya Nysa var. svperha (J. Veifch & Sons).—A lemon 
yellow throat characterises this form, the lip being large and richly 
coloured (award of merit). 
Lcelio-Cattleya Nysa var. purgmrea (J. Veitch & Sons).—Like the 
two foregoing this is the result of a cross between Laelia crispa and 
Cattleya Warscewiczi. The sepals and petals are darker in colour than 
the others, as is the throat (award of merit). 
Rose Maman Cocliet (Paul & Son).—This appears to be an excellent 
Tea Eose, the blooms being cream suffused pink (award of meiit). 
Sophro-Cattleya eximia (J. Veitch & Sons).—This charming little 
Orchid is the result of a cross between Sophronites grand!flora and 
Cattleya Bowringiana. The sepals and petals are a bright and new 
shade of rose, the lip being darker with a pale yellow throat (first-class 
certificate). 
Veronica lycopodioides (Paul «k Son).—This is a dwarf growing plant 
of a bright green shade (first-class certificate). 
Veronica cupressoides (Paul & Son).—Like the last named this is 
dwarf in habit, the growth resembling a Cupressus, hence apparently its 
specific name (first-class certificate). 
H Veronica salicornoides (Paul & Son),—A compact growing shrubby 
plant with a yellowish green shade (first-class certificate). 
Zepliyranthes carinata (J. Fitt).—This is comparatively a well 
known plant of attractive appearance. The flowers are bright pink in 
colour and very effective (first-class certificate). 
Hardy Trees and Shrubs, 
It seems unfortunate that the day should have proved so wet, 
especially when it is remembered that the exhibits included in the 
Tree and Shrub Conference were staged out of doors, thus rendering it 
impossible to give detailed reports of the bewildering number of exhibits. 
Mr. J. W. McHattie, gardener to the Duke of Wellington, Strathfieldsaye, 
arranged a handsome and extensive collection, comprising Acers, Hollies, 
Oaks, Spiraeas, and many less frequently seen though useful plants and 
shrubs. An exhibit composed principally of Hollies, Oaks, Pyrus, Cerasus, 
Box, Ruscus, and Conifers was staged by Sir P. E. Murray, Bart., 
Ochtertyre. Mr. Maher, gardener to A. Waterhouse, Esq., Newbury, 
showed Viburnum lantanum, Dimorphanthus manchuricus, and Acers 
in variety amongst others. 
Mr. G-. Wythes, gardener to the Duke of Northumberland, Syon 
House, Brentford, covered a good amount of tabling with a collection 
that consisted of 150 kinds, and including many very handsome examples. 
A small but very choiee and interesting exhibit came from W. H. Max¬ 
well, Esq., Munches, Dalbeattie, while Mr. D. Crombie, gardener to 
Viscount Powerscourt, Ennisbury, showed Conifers somewhat exten¬ 
sively amongst other kinds. One of the most extensive exhibits was 
that from Mr. M. Dunn, Dalkeith Gardens, N.B., which comprised 
Deutzias, Eucalyptus, Jasmines, Oaks, Cedars, Hollies, Arbutus, 
Pittosporums, and Cotoneasters amongst numerous others. 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, exhibited 
a very choice collection, including Vitis Coignetre, V. flexuosa. Citrus, 
Magnolias, Acers, Philadelphus, Hypericums, Alnus, Styrax japonica, 
Rosas, Ulmus, Cotoneasters, Fraxinus, Calycanthus, Prunus, Castaneas, 
Callunas, Cratmgus, Euonymus, Oaks, and many others. Mr. T. Ratt¬ 
ray, gardener to Mrs. Holford, Weston Birt, Tetbury, staged an extensive 
collection of trees and shrubs, probably the largest of any. It consisted 
of Pyrus, Crataegus, Cerasus, Oaks, Magnolias, Cotoneasters, Euonymus, 
Cornus, Acers, Viburnums, Betulas, and a grandly berried piece of 
Hippophae rhamnoides. Messrs. R. Veitch & Son, Exeter, staged 
Ligustrums, Cornus, Poplars, Acers, Oaks, and others, 
Mr. H. Smale, The Gardens, Fawsley, Da’^entry, showed branches 
of Pyrus domesticus and Cedrus Libani, and Mr, J. Fitt, gardener to 
Earl Cowper, Panshanger, Hertford, staged a small exhibit, including 
Magnolias, The Loquat, Ceanothus, and others. Messrs. Paul & Son, 
Cheshunt, showed a collection in the vinery, including many interesting 
plants, amongst which were Veronica lycopodioides, V. salicornoides, 
V. cupressoides, to each of which first-class certificates were accorded, 
as was also the case to a Holly named Lawsoniana, and an award of 
merit for Acer purpurascens Nizetti. 
From Mr. O. Thomas, the Royal Gardens, Windsor, came a 
collection of tree branches. Messrs. G. Bunyard & Co., the Old 
Nurseries, Maidstone, showed an interesting exhibit of hardy plants in 
great variety, while Messrs. C. Lee & Sons, Hammersmith, also sent a 
few examples of hardy trees and shrubs, and an extensive and inter¬ 
esting collection also came from the Royal Gardens, Kew. 
WOKK.foii™eWEEK.. 
ii ^ 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Preparing Ground for Fruit Tree Planting. —This important 
work ought to receive attention at once, in order that the ground may 
be in readiness to receive the trees in November. All soils, especially 
light ones, require time to become settled and consolidated somewhat, 
more so when they have been deeply moved, as they invariably should 
be before planting such permanent occupants as fruit trees. The due 
preparation of the ground must, therefore, be looked on as of paramount 
importance, inasmuch as no fruit trees can properly thrive in an inferior 
rooting medium. The time spent in thorough preliminary cultivation 
will in the future be amply rewarded by the successful results secured. 
Braining Soil. —The greatest difficulty experienced in preparing a 
site for fruit cultivation is when the soil is wet, containing stagnant 
water which cannot freely escape. The soil is then waterlogged, its 
temperature reduced, and it is impervious to the mellowing influence of 
air circulating through it. Fruit trees will not succeed in ground any¬ 
thing like approaehing this state. They may grow, but the wood made 
is soft and cannot possibly ripen. The only remedy for such positions is 
to drain the land, and to do this effectually a system of 2-inch tile drains 
should be laid down 3 feet deep, with a proper fall to main drains of 
4-inch core tiles, these communicating with an outlet at the lowest part 
of the plot. The 2-inch drains usually run into the mains diagonally, 
and are placed at distances ranging from 15 to 24 feet apart, according 
to the nature of the soil. That of the least retentive character but still 
needing draining may have the tiles laid at the wider distance apart, 
but where the subsoil is clayey, consequently more liable to hold water 
within 3 feet of the surface, the lesser distance must be employed. 
Effects of Braining. — The beneficial effects of draining w’ater- 
charged soils are seen not only in the healthier and more productive 
state of vegetation growing therein, but in the warmer and drier 
condition of the soil generally. It is a well-known fact that draining 
raises the temperature of soil considerably, simply because the super¬ 
fluous water passes away. Warm air follows, and rain has a chance of 
carrying its fertilising properties down also. 
Soil Preparation. — Trenching. —This is a most effective way of 
deeply stirring the soil and breaking up the subsoil. It consists of 
entirely reversing the position of 2 or 3 feet of soil, bringing the bottom 
to the top, and placing the top soil in the bottom. Trenching only acts 
satisfactorily when the soil is good throughout. Bringing a hard, inert 
pan of impoverished subsoil to the surface, or mixing much of such 
material with good surface soil, renders the quality of the whole too inferior 
for planting. If there is time to improve it by well manuring, freely 
stirring, and cropping with Potatoes, Celery, or Onions to bring it into 
condition, thorough trenching, with a view of hereafter planting fruit 
trees, may wisely be adopted. An increased depth of good substantial 
material is useful, not only as a means of providing suitable food for 
the sustenance of trees, but of filtering away superfluous moisture during 
wet periods, and conserving a store which can be drawn upon by the 
roots during drought. 
Bastard Trenching. —This method is employed when it is desirable 
to move without mixing the upper and lower spits of soil and the sub¬ 
soil below. Each strata or layer is well broken up and manured if neces¬ 
sary, but left in its original position. This mode of deepening soil 
answers well, being especially useful when there is no time for a pro¬ 
longed course of preparation, which in ordinarily good soil is not abso- 
lutelv needful. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Peaches and TTectarlnes.— Late Houses. —When the fruit has 
been gathered, as will be the case where there are midseason varieties, 
the next important object is to secure the ripening of the wood. This 
can be done by thinning unnecessary shoots in addition to those that 
have borne fruit, the latter being cut out to a successional shoot at the 
base, and the former being thinned where overcrowded. In the case of 
strong, vigorous trees it may be necessary to accelerate the ripening of 
the wood by gentle fire heat, especially in dull weather, at the same 
time admitting air freely. Some of the late Peaches, as, for instance,, 
Walburton’s Admirable, Golden Eagle, and Comet, will require gentle 
fire heat in cold localities to ripen them thoroughly. An occasional 
syringing will be necessary for trees from which the fruit has been 
gathered. 
Unsatisfactory drees. —Where the trees cast their buds, do not set 
the fruit well, or fail to stone and finish their crops satisfactorily, 
something is amiss either in the management or with the roots. Either 
the roots are too deep or the soil is too rich or loose, unsuitable 
material, or imperfectly drained. Trees in an unsatisfactory condition 
should be partially or wholly lifted as soon as the wood is mature. If 
this be done whilst the trees are in leaf the house should be shaded 
before commencing operations, and the old border made evenly moist. 
In removing the soil commence at the point most distant, and work 
towards the trees, and when it has been cleared away the exposed roots 
should be drawn aside, damped and covered with mats whilst the 
drainage is being attended to. This should consist of 12 inches thick- 
