4G4: 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
November 22, 1894. 
bunches follow, for the best of all reasons, that the material is not 
there for their formation. So it is in respect to other plants and 
trees. What are the necessary conditions for the manufacture of 
and storage of the all-important nutrient matter in question ? 
1, Healthy root action in sweet, moist, fertile soil. 2, Sound, 
clean, perfect leaves, directly exposed to the sun. They cannot be 
perfect if infested with insects, nor if obscured from the sun, 
either by overcrowding, a continuously clouded sky, or by a 
densely shaded roof, under which they may be compelled to grow^ 
Neither of those two conditions is in itself sufficient. An abundance 
of available food in the soil and very little sun from the firmament 
result in sappy, fruitless growth, because the formation of starch 
is prevented. The machinery (the foliage) is out of order for its 
manufacture. Long-continued and powerful sun, and at the same 
time a too dry and impoverished soil, cannot avail, because the 
roots do not gather what is absolutely necessary for conversion into 
starch. The leaves then turn limp, the wood shrinks, and 
becomes hard like bone. It is not then ripened, but more akin to 
being baked. 
It is this outward appearance of wood, without giving a thought 
to what is not in it, that leads superficial observers astray on the 
question of ripeness. Such exhausted trees bear no fruit, and 
hence it is nothing new to hear “ ripe ” wood spoken of with 
contumely. It is perhaps only natural that it should be so after 
all, and it is certainly not in any way uncommon for persons who 
know the least about a subject to be the loudest in its praise or 
condemnation, according to their views.” It is perhaps, on the 
whole, best to regard this as pertaining to the frailties of human 
nature, and go on working on sound lines, hoping for better things. 
To return to the question of exhausted trees. When trees 
bear superabundantly one year, and produce little or no blossom 
the next, the reason is as clear as daylight. The too heavy crops 
demand the last ounce of nutriment the trees can supply, and 
there is no reserve or overplus for storing. Another season is then 
needed for recuperation. If more than half the fruit had been 
removed by thinning, also extra support given to the trees, a crop 
would have followed the following season, frost and insects 
permitting. Insects can be subdued, or what is better prevented, 
when the requisite means are afforded ; but frost cannot be 
averted. Let us then do what we can in assisting exhausted trees. 
I am not likely to underrate the value of liquid manure applied 
when the land is suitable for its reception during the winter—that 
is when the liquid will pass freely down to and below the roots. 
I was the first to advocate the method in the Journal of Horti- 
culture many years ago, after having used probably a million 
gallons, and giving renewed life to previously exhausted trees. 
There is no method so quick and so sure in changing the character 
of the growth of stunted old trees and improving their fruit; 
but it is not and cannot be an antidote against injury resulting 
from severe frost when it occurs at a critical time. 
It is not my intention to enter into a controversy with the 
correspondent who has chosen such an appropriate pseudonym, 
even though he bestows on me some attention (page 444). Had 
he answered pertinent and reasonable questions of others I would 
have answered his on the quality of fruit, though it is on a fresh 
subject. I am too old to follow the trail of literary red herrings. 
One of his arguments is pertinent, and it is easy to show its 
emptiness in a few words. On my pointing out the plethora of 
Pears and the paucity of Apples this year, I am told (page 445) I 
had forgotten that this was largely due to the recent “ lavish 
amount of fruit tree planting.” Seeing that at least twenty Apple 
trees have been planted to one Pear tree we ought, therefore, to 
have had twenty times as many Apples as Pears, whereas some- 
thing like the reverse was the case in most gardens and orchards. 
Is another word necessary ? 
I have something better—more practical—to propose than the 
crossing of pens in a mere war of words. Your correspondent has 
been so good as to wish I could have been with him to see some 
forest trees. That refers to the past, but there is a future ; and if 
I can have an invitation (through the Editor) to see his fruit 
trees, I will try and arrange to do so during the ensuing season ; 
and if his hHe noir “ Azoto,” will similarly invite me, I will do my 
best to see him too. I should like to “ interview ” them both, and 
to tell what they are by their ivork, if not who they are, for on a 
personal matter I shall betray no confidences, though otherwise I 
shall claim a free hand for my pen. This latter is to be regarded 
as an unalterable condition and the inflexible decision of— 
A Judge. 
PLANTS FOR THE HARDY FERNERY. 
Although Dicksonia antarctica will flourish in the conserva¬ 
tory, it is really no place for this useful and very effective plant. 
Under the dry atmospheric conditions of the conservatory this 
Fern soon becomes a prey to thrips, and gives endless trouble to 
clean and to keep it free from these pests. When once heavy 
syringings must be discontinued either on account of the flowering 
plants, or for the comfort of these who daily use these structures to 
sit in, the Dicksonia is one of the first plants to be attacked by 
thrips. The right position for this handsome species is the cool 
hardy fernery, where no fire heat whatever is employed. Under 
these conditions it is perfectly at home, and the plant grows 
luxuriantly in the cool shady moist atmosphere of such a structure, 
and is never attacked by insects. If the atmosphere is kept drier 
during the winter, severe frosty weather does the plant no barm 
whatever ; we have had its fronds frozen stiff and no injury follow. 
For the past four winters plants have been kept in a cold house, and 
their appearance testify that it is the condition under which they 
thrive best. 
A grand companion plant for the Dicksonia growing under the 
same conditions is Woodwardia radicans. Planted on the top of 
rocks it will make fronds 7 and 8 feet in length, and arches in a 
graceful manner. For baskets suspended from the roof in a cold 
house it has probably no equal; it is graceful and even picturesque. 
For hanging out of little pockets or for a groundwork Pteris cretica 
albo-lineata seems also to enjoy cold treatment. Good plants from 
their distinctive variegated nature are very handsome. Even some 
seedling Adiantums that appeared amongst some raised from 
A. cuneatum have also proved hardy, and one plant in particular 
has grown wonderfully well this season. Pteris serrulata also 
proved hardy and is useful, and we have no doubt that several 
of the crested forms will also prove hardy enough. 
Dracaena congesta flourishes well in a cold house, and a few 
plants in suitable positions are effective amongst Ferns. Even the 
common green Tradescantia has stood several winters, and although 
somewhat damaged it has grown freely again in the spring. A 
little of this plant to hang over stones or from ledges near the 
top of the building is very effective. It produces roots so freely, 
and these hanging amongst the foliage give it rather a pleasing 
appearance. Abutilon vexillarium marmoratum, with its beauti¬ 
fully mottled foliage, to our surprise has also proved hardy under 
the conditions described, and keeps its colour very much better 
than we anticipated would be the case. To hang over a stone or 
for variety the plant is useful in the hardy fernery.—0. M. 
THE FLORISTS’ TULIP. 
[By James W. Bentley, Hon. Secretary to the Koyal National Tulip Society.] 
The Properties Further Considered. 
f Continued from page 444.) 
Feathered flowers are very much scarcer than flamed ones. 
There would seem to be in the Tulip a natural propensity to settle 
down finally as a flamed flower. I do not state this as an absolute 
fact, but the evidence in favour of it being so is very strong. 
Every Tulip grower knows that, occasionally, his feathered flowers 
“ go flamed,” and the old varieties of fifty or sixty years ago, that 
we still grow, although formerly famous as feathers, are now 
almost invariably flamed. Such varieties as Polyphemus, Maid of 
Orleans, Vicar of Radford, Arlette, and Aglaia may be instanced. 
There are a few exceptions, such as old Comte de Vergennes and 
Heroine, which are still found feathered, but even these are more 
numerous in the flamed state. The principal faults to which 
feathered flowers are liable are breaks in the feather, technically 
known as sJcips, and the presence of the marking colour on some 
other portion of the petals than the edges. Both faults are serious 
from an exhibition point of view, but both have to be constantly 
tolerated. The best way to keep up a stock of feathered flowers 
