116 
THE FLOEIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[MAY, 
that it may induce others to try this mode of cultivation, and .thus bring so fine 
a plant into more general cultivation. It is, indeed, so noble and stately that it is 
well worthy of all the extra trouble that may be bestowed upon it. 
A plant which flowered here in 1872, and produced a stem upwards of 11 ft. 
in height, was left undisturbed, and the following season produced flower-stems 
from three of its offset bulbs. These, although comparatively weak, each perfected 
several fine flowers. In the spring of 1874 another stem was thrown up, which 
grew to the height of about 8 ft., having a good head of flowers; while again in 
the spring of 1875 a somewhat similar one was produced. This, therefore, 
makes the fourth season in succession in which the same plant has flowered, and 
that without being disturbed in any way whatever. The plant above referred to 
is, moreover, one out of five which have flowered here under out-door treatment 
during the past summer. 
Although I relate the above as an instance of the free-flowering habit of 
the Lily, I do not recommend the mode of cultivation there indicated. To get 
‘ strong, vigorous flower-stems, the plants should always be lifted in the autumn 
after flowering, and the offsets taken away and planted separately, the soil having 
previously been well made with a portion of peat earth and well-rotted cow-dung. 
I may here also state that one of the five plants above-named was a seedling 
raised from seed ripened here in the open air—this being the second seedling of this 
species that has flowered with us. Fertilisation with other sorts has been attempted, 
but as yet without success.— John Webster, Gordon Castle. 
GOEDON-TEAINED FEUIT-TEEES. 
IS far as I have observed in the various districts of the country which are 
noted as being famous for the quantity as well as excellence of the fruit 
produced therein, I do not think that the Cordon system of training has 
extended at all in proportion to its merits. It may not get into general 
favour, by reason of being only imperfectly understood, and besides this, many 
who have attempted to grow fruits by this method have treated it more as a 
burlesque than a profitable art. 
The rapidity by which walls can be covered by this means, the variety 
of kinds which can be grown, the great quantity and excellence of the fruit in 
proportion to the space occupied, and the elegance of the trees, especially when 
they are laden with ripening fruit, are recommendations of cordon-training which 
will be generally accepted by those who have the good-fortune to inspect trees 
which are under the management of masters of the art. 
It is true, one might travel the entire length and breadth of a county and not see 
well-managed Cordons, but they are to be found. It is but lately that I have had 
the pleasure of inspecting trees of this description under first-rate management. 
I refer to those at Hindlip Hall, under the care of Mr. Moffat, whose experience 
in fruit-culture has been wide and varied. Mr. Moffat is now strongly in favour of 
the Cordon system. The peach-houses, when the early-forced trees were in fuU 
