287 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, August 16, 1859. 
mentioning, that the main ribbon borders were planted with the 
red Penstemons, and dark Calceolarias in the centre ; two rows 
of yellow Calceolarias on each side; then two rows of Scarlet 
Geraniums ou each side; and bordered, I think, either with white 
variegated Alyssum, or Mangle s Variegated Geranium. 
R. Fish. 
THE EFFECTS OF DROUGHT OH FRUIT 
TREES-WATERING, &c. 
The evil effects of long-continued drought on fruit trees will 
be peculiarly manifest this summer in those parts of our native 
isle where such extremes have prevailed. Very strong trees pro¬ 
ducing little or no fruit may not show it. Indeed, in many 
such cases it will prove a positive benefit; but with weak subjects, 
and those which, being past all grossness, are carrying crops, the 
case will be widely different. This has certainly been one of the 
strangest springs on record as regards fruit; and when to such 
is added a burning July, with scarcely a drop of rain in many 
quarters, we have, indeed, an awkward case in the fruit way. 
The injurious effects of drought on bearing trees, especially if 
of some age, will thus manifest themselves. The fruits will 
become hide-bound, will crack or rift, or they will cast fruit; and 
the fruits when they come to table will be dry or vapid. As to 
the wood, it will cease to extend, and the spurs will lack material 
wherewith to compound blossoms; added to this that a general 
constriction of the very wood, or alburnous matter of the tree, 
will take place, which will subsequently prove a serious impedi¬ 
ment to the extension and well-being of the tree. Another im¬ 
portant point: these subjects are almost sure to be infested with 
insects. These are the conditions that our fruit-insects rejoice 
in ; seldom will they overrun a tree which has never undergone 
abuse, and which possesses a continuous and healthy root action. 
This holds good with the scale, aphides in general, and particu¬ 
larly with regard to that infamous pest, the red spider. Let any 
one suffer his Peach trees to become exceedingly dry at root, and 
render them no assistance from the time of the fruits ripening, 
and it is almost certain that he will be overrun with the spider. 
And now it is that the fate of the trees for the next year, at least, 
is sealed, as regards fruiting. The buds, or spurs, from which 
■we expect blossom, having been previously half starved, become 
henceforth almost dried, and have not power to complete the 
blossom-bud. If any should form they will assuredly lack 
energies in the ensuing spring. Watering, therefore, in such cases 
is of the utmost importance; indeed, it is more through the lack 
of proper appliances at proper periods, in one shape or other, 
than from our untoward seasons, that such complaints exist 
about fruits. There is, perhaps, no period of so much importance 
in this respect as the month of July; the condition the tree is 
under during this month seals its fate in very many cases of both 
the present and succeeding crops. But as there are different 
modes of handling the waterpot, I must offer a little advice. 
Generally, trees suffering from drought have a kind of crust over 
j the soil’s surface. It is of little use pouring water on encrusted 
l soil. The surface, therefore, should be well loosened with a fork, 
and if adhesive well divided. And now there should be a coating of 
half-rotten manure, of any kind, placed over the area of the roots 
three'inches in thickness. On this surfacing the water may be 
applied liberally; but it is well to use rosed waterpots, that it 
may trickle down steadily. In cases of severe drought such trees 
should receive three separate doses—three days in succession, one 
each day. It is in vain to expect to do justice to it at one 
watering. Under such circumstances little waterings will not do. 
The first day it may be moderate; the second day increased ; 
I and the third day most of all. This will prove thoroughly 
efficient; and the probability is that the trees operated on will 
not require another watering : this will fairly put them on their | 
legs, as country people say. The certain effects of it will be to 
infuse new life into both fruit and wood; and the damaging con¬ 
striction occurring to the very constitution of the tree will be 
arrested. 
Here let me speak of young fruit trees. Hitherto I have 
been dealing with trees of full bearing habits. Now these 
require a different consideration. They cannot wait for water 
until July in cases of previous drought. They should be kept in 
a continuous and steady growth; so that, from the droughts of 
spring until the middle of August they may require attention as 
to watering. At the same time let it be remembered that these 
droughts arc powerful agents in inducing fruitful habits. This 
we must not lose sight of; and where we desire their agency 
to check luxuriance, not to be too officious with the waterpot. 
It becomes every one, therefote, to carefully ascertain the precise 
effects of drought on fruit trees ; and in so doing to well dis¬ 
tinguish between old and hard-worked trees, young trees just 
coming into full bearing, and young trees planted a year or two. 
To one portion it is highly prejudicial; to the other beneficial. 
I do not say that young and gross trees will benefit by any amount 
of drought; but that, up to a certain point, it is an agent that 
we gladly make use of: in gardening phraseology it “tames the 
tree.” It is commonly remarked amongst gardeners, that the 
best way to cheek an overproud fruit tree is to catch it with a. 
very heavy crop, and to afford it no assistance. This is not 
devoid of truth ; but there are always several phases in which to 
view a result. I have seen trees in such condition fearfully 
exhausted with one of these punishing crops. 
But there is yet another point of view as to the effects of drought 
on young fruit trees. Very frequently there is a necessity for a 
free extension of the branches in order to cut out the fabric of a 
substantial tree, or to fill some allotted space of a wall, or for any 
peculiar mode of training. Where such are the objects, the 
parties are justified in promoting growth irrespective of immediate 
profit. In this case the waterpot may be used; but the finger- 
and-thumb pinching, alias stopping, may keep pace with it. 
It may seem strange to youDg beginners in the fruitist’s art to 
hear those who are experienced in fruit culture at one period 
recommending caution as to a damp bottom, at another equally 
strenuous as to water-pot work ; but so it must and ought to be. 
As far as moisture is concerned, either extreme is perilous. To 
write about fruit culture from November to March, and again 
from May to September, are two very different affairs: the one 
being, in general, preparatory matters, the other cultural. 
We all know that there are very poor crops of fruit this 
season, taking the country through; and that under such 
circumstances strong yomig trees, especially Pears, are apt to 
run exceedingly to wood. Had it been a very moist as well as 
warm summer, such trees would have been in a most riotous con¬ 
dition, having no work to do ; but there would have been plenty 
of work for the root-pruner in the autumn or winter. As it is, 
there will be much stopping requisite, and thinning out to be 
performed. As to watering, the Peach and Nectarine claim 
special attention ; few trees suffer sooner from drought, if carry¬ 
ing a crop of fruit. Many of our shy-wooded Pears, too, benefit 
considerably by a good watering when the fruit should swell most 
rapidly, and this, in the main, will be through July and into the 
beginning of August. It is most essential to the size, style, and, 
I may add, texture of the fruit, that this first swelling be carried 
out with freedom,—no checks. As for the texture, there can be 
little doubt that the mellow, melting texture which most people 
so esteem in the Pear is dependent in no small degree on a 
steady and unfailing supply of moisture, sufficient for the present 
purpose, during the fruit-swelling season. R. Errington. 
HARDY FLOWERING HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 
(Continued from page 258.) 
ANTIRRHINUM— Snapdragon. 
Nat. ord. Scrophulariacese. Linn. Didynamia Angiospermia. 
Generic Character. — Calyx five-leaved. Corolla not spurred, 
gibbous at the base; upper lip bifid, reflexed ; lower lip trifid ; 
closed by the prominent palate. Capsule oblique at the base, 
not valved, opening at the end by three pores. 
Antirrhinum angustieolium (narrow-leaved). We believe this 
is only a variety of A. siculum. 2 ft. Pink. August. Europe. 
A. MAJUS (greater). Leaves lanceolate, opposite ; flowers race¬ 
mose; sepals glandular, hairy, ovate, blunt. 2 ft. Various. 
July. England. 
A. medium (intermediate). This appears to be a variety of 
A. majus. 2 ft. Pink. August. Europe. 
A. sempervirens (evergreen). Leaves petiolate, opposite, elliptic, 
rather downy; fioicers few, in loose racemes, calycine lobes 
lanceolate, acute, reflexed at top. 2 ft. Pink. August. 
Pyrenees. 
A. Siculum (Sicilian). Leaves linear lanceolate, ternate; floivers 
racemose; sepals glandular, hairy, lanceolate, acute. 1 ft. 
White. July. Sicily. 
A. tortuosum (twisted). Plant glabrous; branches twisted at 
the baso ; leaves linear, acute, opposite, or threo in a whorl; 
