335 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, March 5, 1861. 
especially Peaches; hut it was easy to perceive that for tender 
fruits Mr. Rivers considered the advantages of the pot in summer 
counterbalanced its disadvantages in winter. The flavour of the 
fruit and the ripening of the wood depend much on the heat of the 
soil; and in fine days, from the absorbing and conducting powers 
of pots, the soil inside will be warmed more quickly and more 
thoroughly than the earth in a house even under glass. True, it 
will cool also more quickly; but the alternations of low and 
high temperature in summer are of less importance in such 
cases. 
No wonder, then, that the numbers of fruit trees in pots, 
and especially of the tenderer kinds—as Peaches, Nectarines, 
Vines, Figs, and even miniature bushes of Peaches and Necta¬ 
rines grafted on the Black Damask Plum stock—are really im¬ 
mense ; plants of these miniatures, not more than 6 inches or 
8 inches high, being a round ball of fruit-buds. To the method 
of preparing these bushes, standards and pyramids, by a series 
of summer pinching I would refer to the “ Orchard-house,” the 
ninth edition of which I believe has lately come out. Among 
such a mass of plants, I could not but notice a large importation 
of maiden Peaches and Nectarines from America, most of them 
grown in the usual way; but a part had been nipped in by 
Mr. Rivers’ directions, and stored, as they were, with short 
shoots some 3 inches or 4 inches long from the stem, the whole 
seemed a mass of fruit-buds from bottom to top, owing, no 
doubt, to the clear sky they there enjoyed. As an answer to 
the trouble of this everlasting potting, I was shown some Peach 
trees and massive shrubs of Apricots, studded with short wood 
bristling with prominent buds, that had stood ten years, and 
fruited every year, in thirteen-inch pots, and early in the autumn 
had been transferred to eighteen-inch pots. Some fine stubby 
bushes of Figs had also had their box-room increased, one of 
the best being a fine plant of the White Marseilles—a beautiful 
Fig, but with me a rather shy bearer. Mr. Rivers told me his 
was very prolific, and that there were two varieties, the only 
difference being their bearing properties. I noticed, also, that 
though the soil was rich, and even wet, the men were thumping 
it as hard as possible in the pots ; not only in agreement with 
the orchard-book, but with principles advocated many years ago, 
to the effect that when groiotli is wanted, keep the soil open; 
when fruit is the object, keep the soil firm. R. Fish. 
{To be continued.) 
— 
CULTURE OF GAZANIA SPLENDENS. 
MAGNOLIA FUSCATA FOR GREENHOUSE WALL. 
As the controversy upon Gazania splendens is seemingly at 
rest under the liardfought godfathersliip of Mr. Beaton, perhaps 
a few remarks practically upon the treatment of this hope-to-be 
useful plant will prove acceptable. 
The plants should be taken up as early in the season as cir¬ 
cumstances will permit—skillfully taking them up with a ball, 
potting them, and placing them in a situation where they can 
hang loosely, but singly, down, not even letting them see a knife; 
for wherever they are cut, followed by cold greenhouse treat¬ 
ment, they so surely and entirely damp off. The object of 
keeping the plants being not for cuttings, but for bedding or 
planting out to bloom at once—requires that they should neither 
be" forced nor drawn, but simply kept through the winter as 
strong and healthy as possible. We have here some three or 
four dozen of last year’s old plants looking as well as they did 
when first taken up. 
Having baskets of the same make and maker as those at 
Sydenham, four of which hang in the conservatory, I filled them 
with variegated plants, Alma Geranium and Perilla, &c., with 
the centre of each filled with plants in full flower of Cliloris per- 
foliata. Among the hangabouts this same Gazania splendens, 
looking admirably well with the growth full of flower-buds. 
Had we a few bright sunny days now and then through the 
winter, I believe they would continue in bloom through the 
same. I may add that a dark green foliage upon the wall at the 
back forms the best of backgrounds for these said baskets. 
The remark brings to mind one of the climbers, which for 
covering a back wall is not surpassed; and yet I never see it 
recommended, or even mentioned, as in any way applicable for 
this subject. Fancy a trellised wall 13 feet high, a portion of it 
some 20 feet wide, covered en masse with an excellent green, the 
stem scarcely seen, alike in winter and summer. Three months 
in the year not only the conservatory, but for a distance around 
when the lights are open, the breeze wafts a delightful fragrance. 
And now the question is, "What plant is this ? No other than 
the old Magnolia fuscata, which, as I have described, does here 
planted out as a fine young plant (not an old stunted plant such 
as you often see at nurseries), remarkably well, having been 
kept cut back for these last six years or more from all sides but 
one. The stem, as I have already stated, is scarcely discernible 
amidst a luxuriance of dark green foliage. Young plants fit to 
plant out in this way are seldom met with. In looking over Mr. 
William Raul’s pew nurseries, near CheBhunt, last week, I saw 
some very nice young plants of it. I believe it would stand 
3° or 4° of frost. 
I have had Daphne indica mbra stand 6° or 8° of frost in the 
late severe weather without any apparent injury. In the 
nursery I have mentioned above, with scarcely an exception, the 
things which have been transplanted (consequent upon the 
removal to the new nurseries few plants are otherwise), are 
uninjured. Certainly our late severe weather plainly illustrates 
to our climatising friends, that according to the state the plant 
is in, as regards moisture or internal sap, so are the effects more 
or less of the frost upon the same.—W. Earley, Gardener , 
Digswell Mouse , Welwyn. 
AURICULAS. 
Although I am now not a “ regular downright Auricula 
grower,” like “D.,” page 318, or a grower of any other plant 
to the extent implied, I am downright sorry he should throw 
the “aulpeens” to the refuse-heap instead of sending them to 
me, who am fond of them beyond measure. I am also down¬ 
right uprightly concerned about his reference to Goths. In all 
my born days I never said aught of a florist beyond being a 
little cracked in the brain, and not in the brain either, but in 
the hot plate which covers it. But are we not all in the same 
boat ? Do we not all live, move, and breathe on the Polmaise 
system, and no two of us just exactly alike ? Now, with all my 
cold and hot-air movements, and with that plate as sound as 
brass can make it, I am a Goth if I know aught of crossing Auri¬ 
culas ; and I want the assistance of some Lightbody or other to 
save me time, which I can ill afford to waste at my time of life. 
I was going earnestly into the crossing of Auriculas this spring. 
I have a splendid lot of them in the back and front gardens. 
If I understand “ D.,” in hybridising Auriculas, a bushel of 
“ aulpeens ” comes in the seedlings for every one that is a true 
cross between two good parents. If that be so, they are just 
like Polyanthuses, and crossing them by pollen proves the fact 
of the crack in the plate after all; and that reminds me that I 
offered three plants of my Good Gracious Yellow Polyanthus to 
one of our readers for one of a kind of yellow Polyanthus which 
he said came true from seeds, and I hope if he is still amongst 
us he will take this as a friendly hint, and if there is any known 
kind of Auricula which comes true from seeds, when deprived 
of all access of foreign pollen, I should be particularly obliged 
for a plant of it that would bloom this year, and I would give 
three times the value for it also. 
With respect to Auricula Shows, the only way to get them up 
in England is to get the ladies to interest themselves in the 
matter, and if they will consent to patronise a Show, and go to 
it, depend upon it gentlemen will go to see them and their 
dresses, if they did not care a straw for the flowers.—D. Beaton. 
THE TREDESCANTS. 
JOHN TREDESCANT THE YOUNGER. 
{Continued from page 305.) 
It will be seen in Tredescant’s will that he wished his Museum 
or “ Closet of Rarieties ” to remain in his wife’s. possession 
during her life, and after her decease to be given to either of the 
Universities which “ she shall think fit.” This wish and in¬ 
tention, however, were frustrated, and we regret to have to 
record that the transaction inposes a deep blot upon the 
memory of Elias Ashmole. This antiquary became acquainted 
with the Tredescants in 1650, and of his subsequent conduct 
towards the family, Mr. Singer has published the following 
notes :— 
“ Ashmole, in his Diary, says— 
“ ‘Decern. 12, 1659. Mr. Tredescant and his wife told me 
they had been long considering upon whom to bestow their 
