260 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, January 25, 1859. 
sound soil, but not too ricb. A moderate amount of 
pruning will suffice. 
Coitet-pendu Plat. —Invaluable, and one of the best 
of dessert Apples. This kind deserves every attention in 
the way of generous soil and careful pruning. 
Pitmaston Eusset Nonpareil. —We have no greater 
bearer than this. I have a few trees, of at least twenty 
years standing, and I am not aware that they ever missed 
setting. Through this circumstance, the trees attain an 
aged appearance in the wood somewhat prematurely, in¬ 
dicating the propriety of a rich loamy soil, for there is no 
danger of its running too much to 'wood. Little pruning 
is required. 
Sturmer Pippin. —This comparatively new and late 
table fruit is a great acquisition to the late spring dessert, 
and everybody plants it. I have found that, when not 
full sized, they are apt to be somewhat depreciated as to 
texture. I am of opinion, therefore, that this kind will 
bear a liberal amount of manure. 
Pearson’s Plate. —This is a great favourite of mine, 
as being of good flavour and texture, a capital bearer, a 
sound Apple in the fruit room, and a very neat dishing 
fruit. The soil should be very good, as it grows slenderly, 
and has much work to perform. 
Dumelow’s Seedling. —There is much error as to this 
Apple, in some parts of the country. Our readers know, 
that, as the catalogues have it, it is identical with Wel¬ 
lington and Normanton Wonder. I have the real Du¬ 
nn-low, as I think, and it .is a very valuable fruit indeed. 
I have also those called Wellington and Normanton, from 
different nurseries. The two latter, with me, are alike, 
but very unlike Dumelow. The latter, with me, is like 
a bouncing Ilawthornden in appearance, but keeps like a 
stone until near March, and lasts until May. It is a 
famous stewing Apple, pulp white and firm, and lively 
enough for goose sauce. Those called Wellington and 
Dumelow are great bearers, but inferior. That called 
Wellington is, I am informed, a famous market-gardener’s 
Apple in Lancashire. 
I should not have included the last kitchen fruit in my 
list, but for the sake of the opportunity of offering my 
experience concerning it. 
I think I have now pointed to the chief of those, as far 
as my experience extends, which require any special re¬ 
marks, and must offer a few observations in conclusion. 
I beg it to be observed, that my object was not to swell 
the list, but rather to contract it within the limits of well- 
known fruits of proved utility. I hope that amateurs 
and small gardeners will not be deterred from planting 
any of the kinds here named because they cannot comply 
with the conditions suggested. We all know that in 
various localities the soil is so well adapted for fruits in 
general that little preparation is needed, and that the 
ordinary kitchen-garden soil, in some parts, will suit them 
pretty well. My object is rather to point to a degree of 
shyness, in some kinds, which deserves a little attention. \ 
It is astonishing how unsatisfactory certain new fruits 
have proved which were praised in such an extravagant 
way. For instance, there is the Gravenstein Apple. I 
planted a young tree twenty years since. It stood twelve 
years, at least, without bearing an Apple, and I then cut 
it down. Ashmead’s Kernel was to prove indispensable : 
I have two trees of some seven years planting, which 
have not produced a fruit. The once celebrated IIaeons 
Incomparable Pear, too, is here the worst of bearers, 
and mealy as an old Turnip. 
We had, therefore, better adhere to those good old 
kinds which stand well by us, and try to do justice to 
their culture. I have a huge standard Glout Moreeau Pear 
—a tree planted for experiment twenty-four years since. 
It is on the Quince, the soil being prepared to suit the 
stock rather than the kind. This tree bears annually about 
a bushel of Pears, and of excellent quality. So very su¬ 
perior have they been this season, that my very worthy 
employer, who has great discrimination, took them for 
the Winter Nelis, which is very excellent here. But 
they have been superior to the Nelis, and that from a big 
tree, standing in a situation which ■would not be con¬ 
sidered too good for a Swan's Egg Pear. 
E. Errington. 
SHOET NOTES ON PLANTS, IN ANSWEE TO 
SEVEEAL COEEESPONDENTS. 
Gonocalyx pulchra. —“ Potted in heath soil, leaf 
mould, turf, and sand, in April, it has grown freely. It 
is full of young growth, and looks well, but I want- to 
see the flowers. It is grown in the greenhouse, at a 
temperature of from 40° to 45°.” 
We should be inclined to give this plant 10° more heat, 
and to keep it rather dry in the winter months. This 
would make the stems firm, and give a stand point to the 
small, thick, rose-coloured leaves, among which the bright 
red flowers might then be expected to make their ap¬ 
pearance. The leaf mould, in the case of a young plant, 
should be in small proportion, as it is apt to encourage 
growth, instead of predisposing to ripening growth. 
Gordonia Javanica. —This, when treated as above, is 
more likely to thrive well. But we are not sufficiently 
acquainted with it, to speak definitely as to its culture. 
Gongora atuo-puepurea. —“ In a basket, six inches 
across and four inches deep. It has been kept nearly 
dry since last October, and in a heat from 55° to 65°. 
When will it want water P” 
As soon as you perceive the pseudo-bulbs at the base 
swelling nicely. Do not allow the roots to get too dry 
in such a temperature—60° would be high enough in dark 
weather in winter. To hasten the swelling of the bulbs, 
if that is deemed necessary, frequently sponge the leaves, 
and the parts at their base, with warm water, without 
much wetting the soil. This will also tend to keep the 
plant healthy and clean. When the bulbs are swelling, 
the best mode of watering will be to place the basket for 
half an hour in water, at about 80°, and then to allow 
the superfluous moisture to drain away. It is best, how¬ 
ever, to moisten a little gradually at first. 
Aphelandea cristata and Leopoldii. —“ Not doing 
well. They are kept in a heat of from 55° to 70°. They 
often get covered with fly, though not one is seen on 
other plants.” 
These plants are perfect nectar and ambrosia to the 
whole race of green-fly. If such an insect is in the house, 
it will be sure to fasten first on an Aphelandra. The 
beautifully marked Leopoldii likes shade from bright sun¬ 
shine, and bottom heat when growing. Equal parts of 
fibry peat and fibry loam, and a third part of silver sand, 
bits of charcoal, and dried nodules of leaf mould, or old 
cowdung, grow such plants in perfection. I suspect that 
the bad appearance ofyour plants may be something owing 
to their treatment. The whole of this and allied genera 
bloom most freely by regular changes of a growing, a 
ripening, and a resting process. Keeping these matters 
in view, the plants now under consideration bloom most 
naturally, with us, in autumn and the firstjwinter months, 
because the sun then helps us to grow and ripen the 
wood. We can rest in winter, by a low temperature and 
comparative dryness ; but we cannot ripen the wood, as 
in the dry season and cloudless sun of a tropical climate. 
We presume your plants have not flowered; and, if the 
heat in the late dull weather was nearer 70° than 55°, we 
fear you will not have much reason for hoping that the 
plants will bloom in spring. Their blooming at the end of 
summer, or autumn, will he quite as much dependent on 
last autumn’s treatment, as upon any you can now give 
them. You are aware, of course, that the flowers are 
produced on the points of the shoots. As you may have 
a chance of blooming them early this spring, and as there 
is yet time enough to try, without interfering with the 
future well-being of these plants, I will keep both matters 
