1871. ] 
PANSIES AS SPRING BEDDING PLANTS. 
147 
favourable seasons bad usually produced only a few feeble blossoms, I bad as 
good a crop as I bad usually seen in tbe best situations and seasons.” If you 
cannot ripen short wood, bow can you ripen long wood ? I have visited tbe 
gardens of long-pruners this spring, and perceived that they bad nearly as 
much dead as living twigs. I constantly receive by post dead twigs; which, 
bad they been short pruned and properly stopped, would never have died. 
One word with regard to nails and ties. I have long discarded those vermin¬ 
breeding shreds; and I use instead bast ties, which are much neater and less 
expensive. I twist the bast round the nail and twig like the figure 8, so as to 
keep the twig from the nail, which I do not draw, as it leaves a hole for vermin. 
If I want to remove a nail—I use cast-iron nails—a slight tap with the hammer 
breaks off its head, and leaves the hole stopped. Trees so managed have a much 
neater appearance than shredded trees. 
I must thank Mr. Macfarlane for his fine execution of my Lord Palmerston 
Peaches in the May Florist and Pomologist ; and finally, I conclude with the 
recommendation of the following Peaches and Nectarines :— 
Peaches. —Early York, Dr. Hogg, Early Alfred, Early Ascot, Grosse Mignonne, 
Noblesse, Royal George, Yiolette Hative, Bellegarde, Barrington, Nectarine-Peach, 
Prince of Wales, Princess of Wales, and Lord Palmerston. 
Nectarines. —Elruge, Yiolette Hative, Rivers’ White Nectarine, Rivers’ Orange, 
Old White Nectarine, Rivers’ Pine Apple, and Rivers’ Victoria. The two last 
are the finest and most valuable of all. The selecter cannot burn his fingers. 
I have placed the above Peaches and Nectarines in the order of ripening.—W. 
F. Radclyffe, OJceford Fitzpaine. 
PANSIES AS SPRING BEDDING PLANTS. 
>OW that spring bedding is receiving so much attention, it may be useful to 
mention that we have found several varieties of Pansies very useful bedders ; 
they have been and now are quite gay with blossoms. Such as Imperial 
Blue and Cliveden Yellow will as required be transferred to different 
quarters in the flower-garden, where they will go on and flower all the summer. 
If they had been stationed where we could have used them without lifting, we 
should have prepared a quantity of rich soil, and after clearing away a few of 
the lower leaves, have put the soil all around them, much the same as in laying 
Carnations. In this they would have taken new root, and have done as well as 
if they had been fresh planted. We generally take cuttings as early in August 
as they can be got good, putting them into a cold frame where they can be kept 
close until rooted ; the glass should be gradually removed as soon as the plants 
will stand without suffering from the sun. The plants will be all the better 
for the exposing, for if allowed to get long and weak they never do so well as 
short strong plants. If not put in too thickly, they can remain until all the 
summer things are cleared off the flower-beds, when the beds should each 
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