330 
THE FLORIST. 
were laid out with natural turf, and the beds, only an inch or two 
in diameter, filled with full-blown flowers, this produces an incon¬ 
gruous appearance. They are called “ Designs for flower-gardens,” 
but designs should be shown on paper, they would look much 
better, and by this means they would escape the character of 
childishness which some critics freely applied to them. 
One gentleman, a real benefactor to his race, exhibited the re¬ 
sults of a series of experiments on the improvement of wheat. 
These experiments have occupied several years, but the result 
appears to be highly satisfactory. Among other things worthy of 
note at this show I observed a plant of Ounnera scabra, the flower 
of this curious Chilian plant is inconspicuous, but the leaves are 
gigantic. It makes a remarkable object when planted on the 
lawn. Delta. 
ORCHARD HOUSE CULTURE. 
(^Continued from p. 295.) 
Potting and Storing ,—The warm weather and rains of the past 
month, and the absence of frost, have kept the stock of Peach and 
Nectarine trees growing too freely for us to think of lifting them 
before the middle of November ; the best guide for this, however, 
will be the state of the wood, and if the leaves commence falling 
off the lower part of the shoots, or turn yellow even, we may 
safely lift them for potting; never mind the few green leaves which 
will remain on the upper ends of the shoots, they will assist in 
keeping up the circulation of the sap, and enable the roots when 
potted the more quickly to re-start into growth. 
As a rule all nursery stock should be taken up with the fork in 
preference to the spade; in fact, we would do all we could to banish 
the spade from this branch of the nursery business altogether had 
we the power ; but at any rate, where the preservation of every 
root is indispensable to success, as is the case with our present 
subject, nothing but the steel fork should be employed in lifting 
the trees. When out of the ground, if they have far to travel, 
wrap the roots in some damp material, or puddle them, to prevent 
them becoming dry before they get into their pots. 
The pots required will be of twelve-inch diameter for the 
maidens, and fourteen or fifteen-inch pots for the two-year olds. 
The roots should go in with as little pruning as you can help, 
and therefore if the plants are at all strong the above sizes will 
not be too large. 
At page 227 we gave a few directions as to soil or compost, and 
if our advice was then taken this will be now in good condition 
for potting. Observe, that for the trees to succeed well, they 
must be potted firm, and this will inform you that the compost 
must be dry when used ; further, as other compost will have to be 
filled in between the roots, it must not be too coarse and lumpy, 
and therefore the manure, turf, and more earthy portions should 
be well mixed, and made tolerably fine to lill up the interstices 
