1878.] 
NOTES ON PLANTING FLOWER GARDENS, ETC. 
57 
BIGARREAU NAPOLEON CHERRY. 
[Plate 465 .] 
doubt, this is one of the best of the tainly a slight 
digression 
Bigarreau race of Cherries. It 
is re- 
markable not only for its excellence of 
quality, but also for its large size and the 
beauty of its appearance. It bears the syno¬ 
nyms of Bigarreau Lauermann, and Lauer- 
mann’s Kirsche. The tree is hardy and 
vigorous, a prolific bearer, and suitable both for 
planting against a wall and as a standard, or 
to be grown under glass. Its fruit is large, 
heart-shaped, yellow, dotted with red ; the ex¬ 
posed side changing to a deep rich crimson ; 
the flesh firm, and full of sweet rich perfumed 
juice. It naturally ripens about the end of 
July or the beginning of August. 
Our plate was drawn from specimens grown 
by Mr. G. T. Miles, the very successful gardener 
to Lord Carington, at Wycombe Abbey. We 
have to thank Mr. Miles for the accompanying 
remarks in reference thereto :— 
“ This extraordinarily fine variety is un¬ 
questionably the most magnificent cherry in 
cultivation. Like most others of the light- 
coloured section, its chief defect arises from its 
susceptibility to crack immediately it becomes 
ripe, unless the fruit is protected against the 
effect of rain and damp. To do this is cer- 
from the ordinary 
routine in such matters, and will involve a 
trifle more labour and attention ; but surely, 
to obtain a dish of such grand fruit in 
perfection as this particular variety supplies on 
either the dessert or exhibition table is worth 
an effort, and its presence there more than 
compensates for the time bestowed on securing 
this end. We give particular attention to this 
matter, and before the Cherries are fully ripe, 
we protect them by means of a sheet of tar- 
pauling, from three to five feet wide, according 
to the height of the wall. This is fastened 
on the top of the wall over the tree, and 
kept up or down according to the require¬ 
ments of the weather; and this meets the 
exigencies of the case. From special observa¬ 
tions made in regard to this subject, we have 
come to the conclusion that an eastern aspect 
is the best for Cherries, of course excepting for 
having them late, and that it is most injurious 
to the trees to deeply cultivate the borders, in 
which the roots abound. 
“ The value of having Cherry trees on late 
walls, as a means of prolonging the season of 
this delicious fruit, is now more generally 
acknowledged, and as it becomes more known 
it will be more universally adopted. For this 
purpose, no variety will be found more suitable 
than the May Duke.— Geo. Thos. Miles, 
Wycombe Abbey.” 
NOTES ON PLANTING FLOWER GARDENS, Etc. 
Gpp HAVE often thought that if gardeners 
& Aj would run their eye over the Flower 
GGD Gardens under their charge, and record 
what plants had done well and been effective, 
it would be a help to many others in making 
arrangements for filling their beds and borders 
in the coming year. 
We have here two Flower Gardens, or rather 
one is a parterre of flowers, and the other of 
foliage. Both are useful and pretty in their 
way. The flowers look best during July and 
August, but the foliage beats them hollow 
during September and October. Amongst the 
Flowers, commencing with Pelargoniums , I still 
like Vesuvius best in the way of scarlets; 
Wellington is grand, but hardly free enough ; 
Waltham Seedling is excellent, beating Stella, 
and Pioneer is truly lovely. Of the pinks, I 
like Pinlc Queen , Master Christine , and Amar¬ 
anth. Lucius is the finest bed in the garden ; 
its pretty rosy tint may be said to be half-way 
between a pink and scarlet. White Clipper 
beats Madame Yaucher. Of the Ageratums , 
Countess of Stair is fine, and so is Lady Jane. 
Among Calceolarias , Gaines's Bouquet is best 
here. Calceolarias frequently go off because they 
are ill-used in winter. I strike my cuttings in 
charcoal-dust, and keep them in a cold pit till 
April, when they are pricked out at the bottom 
of a wall for a month or six weeks, and they 
never take the palsy or falling sickness either. 
I still grow Verbena Purple King , for it is a 
lovely colour; it wants the soil to be rich, and 
abominates pegs. A really good blue bedder 
is to be found in Viola Perfection. Strange to 
say, Violas do better in the north than here. 
I saw Viola lutea a foot high and quite a mass 
of blossom at Balmoral, but although I brought 
cuttings from this very bed, it does not do so 
well with me; the moisture and cool atmo¬ 
sphere of the Highlands suit it best. Helio¬ 
tropes are still bedded here for their scent. Of 
