IGG 
THE FLOEIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ Novemhee, 
base, scarcely cuiieate; the outer margin is 
divided about one-fourth the depth into 
3-4 rounded lobes, and there are 5-10 
sori, according to the size of the pinnule, 
around the edge, each sorus being separated by 
a notch about as deep as itself, breaking up 
the edge into crenatures. The sori occupy the 
whole of the outer semicircular edge, and are 
seated on the crest of the crenature ; they are 
kidney-shaped in outline, and are covered by 
membranous entire indusia. The sterile por¬ 
tions have an erose diaphanous margin. 
There is thus, as already intimated, a close 
relationship'to A. chilense, but the plant seems 
to differ from that by its larger size and freer 
growth, by the peculiar form of the pinnules, 
and by the less curved sori, the ends of which 
in A. chilense point outwards, like a pair of 
horns. There is also a peculiar undulation of 
the surface of the fronds. The caudex is slowly 
creeping, and makes its way to the sides of the 
pot in which it is grown. 
The plant is a native of Peru, where it is 
found on the mountains, growing at an eleva¬ 
tion of 12,000 feet. It has been recently im¬ 
ported by Mr. B. S. Williams, after whom it is 
named, and was awai'ded a First-class Certifi¬ 
cate at South Kensington on May 2nd, 1877. 
—T. Mooee. 
THE IRISH HEATH. 
DABEOCIA POLIFOLIA. 
URINGr the latter part of the summer, 
and throughout the autumn, the 
numerous blossoms of the Irish Heath, 
Daheocia polifolia^ also known as Menziesia 
polifolia, are very interesting and attractive. 
These plants are, indeed, almost always in 
blossom, or if the early-blooming shoots are 
pruned back, they break and blossom a second 
time. There are several forms of this pretty 
plant in cultivation, the most familiar of which 
are the purple-flowered type, and its pure white 
variety, alba^ both of which are very effec¬ 
tive. There is also a deeper purple variety, 
called atropurpiirea, and one of more erect 
habit called stricta, all of which are worth a 
place in any collection of peat-earth hardy 
shrubs. They are well suited, along with the 
Hardy Heaths, for planting at the edges of 
beds of hardy Rhododendrons and Azaleas. 
The most interesting of them all, however, 
is the variety licolor, which is so remarkable 
a plant, that no garden of any pretension 
should lack a bed of it. Its peculiarity con¬ 
sists in its producing flowers of various colours 
—purple, blush, and white—on the plant at 
one and the same time, indiscriminately, as it 
were, and so completely mingled as to have 
a .peculiar and pleasing effect. Some plants, 
for the time being, have all their flowers wholly 
purple—a prettj", livel}^, rosy-purple. Some 
plants bear them almost wholly white; and 
many plants blossom with purple spikes and 
white spikes intermingled. One at first is led 
to suppose it is a mixture of plants, but an 
examination disproves this, as some are found 
with the spikes bearing both colours side b}' 
side, and occasionally both are displayed in the 
same individual flower. The tout ensemble is 
remarkably good, and the phenomenon is alto¬ 
gether a feature of special interest.—T. Moore. 
DWARF FRUIT-TREES. 
Planting, Etc. 
URING the last thirty years, much has 
been done to popularise the cultivation 
of hardy fruits. Though from time 
immemorial fruit-trees have been planted in 
gardens, their successful cultivation by the 
mass of people is still a rai'e circumstance ; 
and yet there are few departments of gardening 
more within the reach of every one, or more 
likely to yield satisfactory results, when the 
right thing is done at the proper time. 
Preparation of the Soil. —Apples, Pears, 
Plums, and Cherries will grow in any fairly 
productive soil, but they thrive best where 
the staple is a good, well-drained, friable loam. 
The average garden is often either too clayey 
or too sandy to do justice to the trees planted 
in it. How' are fruit-trees to be grown to 
advantage in such positions ? Special sites or 
“ stations ” must be provided, and they may 
be made in the following manner:—Having 
fixed on the spots where the trees are to be 
planted, mark out for each a space of not less 
than four feet every way. Dig out the soil to 
the depth of 30 inches. In the bottom of 
each hole place a layer, 9 inches deep, of 
brick-ends, large stones, clinkers from furnaces, 
or any other available materials. Cover this 
substratum with a thin layer of coarse ashes. 
On this put 6 inches of the best soil obtainable ; 
the more turfy matter it contains the better. 
Stations thus prepared will cost a little in 
labour and materials, but the after-results 
will repay the outlay. If the soil thrown out 
of the holes be such as will grow really good 
vegetables, nothing need be added to it. 
Should it, however, be poor, light, and sandy, 
requiring the adding of much manure to pro¬ 
duce good crops, then it will be necessary to 
mix with it one-third its bulk of marl, or 
failing that, of good turfy soil. In stiff 
clay land, a sufficient quantity of road- 
scrapings or lime-rubbish must be added, 
