62 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ March, 
or standard-trained trees. These and the dwarf-trained trees are commonly planted 
together, alternately, and of course the “ rider ” is planted with the primary inten¬ 
tion of cutting it back or destroying it as the dwarf advances, but this is done in 
such a cheeseparing and gingerly way, that the poor dwarf never gets of age, which 
it should do at 10 years, till it is perhaps 20 or 30 years old—perhaps even never, 
for the rider, its miner as it may be termed, is allowed to remain, and while it never 
makes a decent tree of itself, it does not allow its lowly neighbour to become one. 
My humble opinion is that rider-trees should never be planted, for two chief 
reasons—that they are costly, and never make a return for the outlay, if you 
take into consideration the deteriorating effect they have on the well-being of the 
permanent dwarf-trained trees. Riders and dwarfs look very pretty on a wall, when 
about 8 or 10 years old, but the dwarfs look much handsomer planted alone, 
occupying the whole surface, and covering the entire wall, as they should do at this 
age. If planted at 20 ft. apart, on a 14-ft. wall, Apricots and Plums should cover 
this space in less time than that just indicated.— Henry Knight, Floors. 
DRACAENAS—REGINA, AMABILIS, Etc. 
RACiENAS are without doubt some of the most noble and useful plants that 
we possess for general decorative purposes, being alike applicable for the 
embellishment of the conservatory, dinner-table, and dwelling-house, and 
scarcely less so for that of the flower-garden during the summer months. 
They present a fresh, lustrous leafage, and elegance of outline which is not sur¬ 
passed by any other class of plants ; and, thanks to the indefatigable exertions of 
our collectors, there have been introduced into cultivation of late a large and 
diversified assortment, remarkable both for their varied general aspect, and for 
the rich hues of their leaf-colouring. Of the light and rose-coloured species, I can 
confidently recommend D. amabilis , D. imperialism and D. regina , as most distinct 
and desirable acquisitions, since they contrast so effectively with the crimson 
kinds. It is, however, more particularly respecting the last-named species that 
I shall now offer a few comments. 
The Draccena regina was introduced by the late Mr. John G. Veitcli, from 
the South Sea Islands, and was distributed by the Messrs. Veitcli in 1868 ; yet -we 
but seldom meet with it grown so as to develop that striking contrast which the 
white variegation of the plant is capable of producing under a more liberal system 
of cultivation. I would here remark that the finest plants I have been able to 
produce have been from top-cuttings, rooted annually upon the plants. Two 
upward incisions are made with the knife, one on each sido of the stem, the 
wound being kept open by the introduction of a chip of crock, and wrapped 
round with Sphagnum moss, while the top is secured by means of a firm stake. 
The plants are afterwards placed in a close, moist stove-heat, and the moss kept 
constantly wet by syringing. Thus treated they will emit roots profusely in the 
course of a few weeks, when they may be cut off and potted, and with the 
pots plunged in a brisk, moist temperature, they will quickly establish tliemselvos 
