140 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, December G, 1859. 
Lophospermums, and Chinese Primroses, and an immense lot of 
young cuttings over the pipes on flags. The Eucnida is beau¬ 
tiful also. 
[Mr. Fish says :—“ Such a letter as the above makes labour 
light, and ought to be printed in large type to attract and 
encourage amateurs, and be an example to young gardeners to 
think and reason as to the * why ’ of their operations. If this is 
not more generally done, amateurs and window-gardeners will 
beat us on our own chosen ground.” The fact that the house is 
heated by a boiler just makes the regulation by the damper more 
important, if the house is to be kept regular in temperature, and 
little economy of fuel. The temperature given shows the house 
is intended for growing the plants slowly and nicely in winter, 
and not merely keeping them. A little fire, therefore, unless in 
very warm nights in winter, will be generally acceptable, and will 
permit of giving a little air earlier. If the house is seldom 
below 45°, and frequently in warm nights as high as 50°, tlie 
Stephanotis will live; and when established along the roof, trained 
fully eighteen inches from it, will be likely to bloom in summer. 
We had a nice plant in a conservatory, kept at from 45° to 50°; 
but it died down bit by bit when the artificial heat was allowed 
to range from 37° to 45°. Were we within a mile “ and a 
bittock,” we should like to see this greenhouse so creditable to 
all parties concerned ; but if “ M. L. E.” does not wish to be 
inundated with visitors she will act wisely in giving to the 
gardening world only her initials. We would sometimes mention 
encouraging instances like her own, but feel we have no right to 
thrust any one into publicity.] 
CULTUEE OF THE FIG TEEE. 
Time is ever changing, and with its changes bringing about 
great revolutions in the gardening world. A modern writer, 
(Linden), speaking of the Eig, says that it is not sufficiently in 
demand to make houses specially for its culture worth erecting. 
We have lived to see that aristocratic tastes, at least, have under¬ 
gone a great change, and that there are few of our grandees who 
do not think a well-ripened hothouse Eig one of the greatest 
luxuries in the way of fruit. Eigs, as generally fruited out of 
doors, are seldom sufficiently ripened, and are not unfrequently 
of a mawkish flavour; but ripened in a house devoted to their 
culture they become a rich jelly of very exquisite flavour. The 
Eig from the open wall and that of the hothouse are two fruits 
not to be confounded. 
My experience in forcing Eigs enables me to say most positively 
that there is no kind of fruit more in demand in aristocratic life, 
and also that there is no fruit more deserving of a house for the 
purpose of growing it. 
Some eight or ten years ago Sir Charles Wood paid a visit 
here; and in walking round the garden suggested the propriety 
of erecting a house over a magnificent Eig tree on the open wall. 
This was done forthwith ; and I will now give the readers of this 
periodical a brief account of it, and its treatment and produce. 
The length of the house is 46 feet, and the back wall is 14 feet 
high. The tree covers the whole of this space, and 10 feet 
additional at each end, being thus 66 feet in its whole length. 
The roots had, before it was enclosed, run riot into the border; 
and my first proceeding was to cut a trench about four feet and 
a half from the tree, and build a wall of brick and concrete to 
retain the roots. This done, and having given a slight pruning, 
principally removing some long naked branches, we commenced 
forcing it about the beginning of January. In doing so I intro¬ 
duced into the house a bed of leaves about four feet high, which 
gently stimulated the roots to action, keeping a temperature of 
50° at night, with syringings night and morning. Thus circum¬ 
stanced, the tree broke into leaf rapidly and put forth an abund¬ 
ance of Figs, being kept well supplied with tepid water. 
As the Eigs advanced the temperature was increased ; and by 
the beginning of May I had a splendid crop of ripe fruit. The 
shoots which produced the early Figs were all stopped at the 
third or fourth joint, and by midsummer were each presenting 
clusters of secondary Eigs, which gave us a most abundant 
autumnal supply. The Eig is very subject to red spider; but 
by three or four dressings of lime and sulphur on the flue this 
pest was kept down. I never prune much, believing that there 
is truth in the old adage that “ a pruned Eig tree never bears.” 
If it were necessary to prove the advantages of glass houses for 
Eigs the circumstance of perfecting two crops in one season does 
it at once. I remember when a young man Lord Plymouth gave 
the late Mr. Lee ten guineas for the original plant of his Per¬ 
petual. We kept the plant in a small stove, and it was always 
bearing Eigs. Many other kinds would be thus prolifio if they 
could be treated to a suitable climate. Our summers are too 
short and uncertain to ripen the second crop of Figs without 
assistance ; but with the aid of glass this is accomplished. 
The Fig is a most delicate and tender fruit; and when it is 
fully ripe it is difficult to distinguish between that stage and 
the commencement of decay. In an hour or two a fine perfectly 
ripe Eig will sometimes become coated over with a blue mould 
—-disfiguring the fruit, but only requiring to be peeled off to 
reveal the quintescence of this charming fruit. It is also very 
susceptible of injury from too much damp ; and requires, there¬ 
fore, much judgment in syringing, for which the mornings are 
most adapted, as it dries off gradually. 
When we consider how superior are the Grapes produced in 
British houses, even to those which come from vinous latitudes, 
we need not wonder at what glass effects for the Eig : and if 
this account of the Nuneham Fig should incite others to cultivate 
this fruit my purpose will have been fully answered. Let us 
hope that the Eig may become more common amongst us, as it 
is certainly one of the most wholesome fruits we have. 
, Henry Bailey, Nuneham. 
COLLECTION OF FUCHSIAS—LAEGE ONIONS. 
W ill you tell me if I could improve my collection of Fuchsias ? 
The following is a list of what I already possess : — Wonderful, 
Venus de Medici, Panics's Glory, Guiding Star, Souvenir de 
Chiswick, Little Po Peep, Pritish Sailor, Sir Colin Campbell, 
Lord Clyde, Pose of Castille, Surprise, Fairest of the Fair, 
Charlemagne, Omar Pacha, Queen of Hanover. I want them 
for competition. 
Please to tell me the largest Onion where size is wanted more 
than quality?—B ob. 
[Your collection of Fuchsias is very good, but as you wish to 
improve it, discard the following:— Wonderful, Glory, Surprise, 
Charlemagne, and Queen of Hanover , Then purchase the follow¬ 
ing :— 
Chancellor (Smith). Scarlet-crimson tube and sepals, violet- 
purple corolla. 
Fclat (Smith). Tube and sepals scarlet, clear-white corolla, 
good habit, and an abundant bloomer. 
La Crinoline (Banks). Crimson tube and sepals, pith a large 
blue corolla. 
Princess of Prussia. Scarlet tube and sepals, pure-white 
corolla. 
Queen of the Sea (Banks). Rich scarlet reflexed petals, and 
deep violet corolla. 
The best sort of Onion to grow large is a kind the seed of 
which is imported by Messrs. Sutton, from Madeira. We have 
grown them eighteen inches in girth. It is good as well as large.] 
NEW AND EAEE PLANTS. 
Many of the following plants have been slightly noticed 
already in The Cottage Gardener ; but I think if they are 
collected together in ope list they will be brought more prominently 
before our readers in consecutive order, and thus be impressed 
more distinctly upon the memory. They are all worthy of culti¬ 
vation, and I can vouch that the description of each is correct. 
STOVE PLANTS. 
Adhatoda CYdoni.lpolia ( Cydonia-leaved Adhatoda ).— A 
handsome-foliaged stove plant, with white flowers tipped with 
purple. It flowers during September and October. 
Allamanda violacea ( Violet-coloured Allamandd). — A 
splendid addition to a fine family of plants. The flowers are 
something like Gloxinia speciosa, and are produced very plenti¬ 
fully. It is a native of Ceylon. Mr. Gardner says it is “ by far 
the most beautiful of the genus.” This will be a favourite plaut 
amongst cultivators, being well adapted for exhibiting among a 
large collection of stove and greenhouse plants. 
Arduina grandiplora ( Large-flowered Arduina ).—A hand¬ 
some evergreen shrub that will amply repay for cultivation, either 
for ornament, or for flowers, or fruit. It has white, sweet blossoms, 
larger than the Jasmine, and its fruit is of a rich crimson and 
well flavoured. It is a native of southern Africa, and was sent 
over by Mr. Plant. 
