1S79.] 
DirLADENIA CABISSTJrA.-ROOT-LTFTING FRUIT-TREES, ETC. 
1G9 
DIPLADENIA 
[Plate 
EW of the genera of stove climbers are 
more attractive in tlioir season than 
the Dipladenias, and some very charm¬ 
ing new kinds —two of which we have pre¬ 
viously figured—have been obtained fi-om seed 
within the last few years, so that the range of 
beauty in this famil}' has been considerably 
extended. At the one end of the series stands 
Diplculenia Jjrearleijana, whose flowers opening 
of a palish rosy hue, change as they acquire 
maturity to a deep rich rosy'-crimson, a change 
which is in striking contrast with that which 
takes place in flowers generally^ inasmuch as 
they mostly become paler as they become older. 
At the other end of the series stands Dipla- 
denia cai'issima, the subject of our plate, which 
is remarkable for the soft delicate blush-tint of 
its flowers. 
One drawing was made in the establishment 
of Mr. W. Bull, of Chelsea, from whom we 
learn that the plant is of seedling origin, and 
that it was raised some few y'ears ago. It is a 
CARISSIMA. 
0 02 .] 
woody climber, like the ordinary forms of 
Dipladenia met with in cultivation, and bears 
oblong elliptic acuminate, very^ shortly-stalked 
leaves, in opposite pairs, and in their axils the 
racemes of lovely' flowers, which are of large 
size, and of a soft blush-pink colour, v.dth an 
open throat, marked opposite the centre of 
the oblique limb-segments by radiating lines of 
bright rose. The flowers are about .5 inches in 
diameter, of good form, with a w'ax-like texture 
and substance, the limb-segments over-lapping 
each other so as to give a smooth and hand¬ 
some outline to the individual blossoms. 
From its distinct character and free habit, 
and its light, delicate, and pleasing colour, it 
will prove an excellent companion plant for 
the high-coloui'ed D. Breayletjann^ mentioned 
above, and like it will make a first-rate ex¬ 
hibition plant. One great advantage observable 
in D. carissima is that it has strong flower- 
stalks, which enable the flowers to stand out 
boldly', much more so than in any other of its 
congeners.—T. Moore. 
ROOT-LIFTING FRUIT-TREES AS A MEANS OF INDUCING 
FERTILITY.* 
a )HIS is a subject deserving of much 
i greater attention than has commonly 
5 been bestowed upon it by gardeners 
and others interested in fruit cultivation. 
By carefully studying the natural root- 
ramblings of all kinds of trees, it will not be 
difficult to comprehend that in most classes of 
fruits, where the trees have been for some length 
of time planted and their roots have become 
well established in the ground, there must be 
a considerable portion which have penetrated 
too far from the surface, so as to be beyond the 
influence of solar heat. Although trees planted 
under such circumstances will continue to make 
growth freely, and even assume a healthy- 
looking character, the wood, at the completion 
of the season’s growth, is generally soft and 
spongy, and the fruit-buds, if formed at all, 
are invariably weak and imperfect. 
The injurious effects of over-deep root- 
action having so far been exposed, it may now 
be as well, before explaining the method of 
operation, to mention that the process of lifting 
* Abstract of a paper read before the Scottish Horticultural 
Association, by Mr. Webster, Gordon Castle. 
may be performed at almost any season, 
although the leafless and dormant one is most 
to be recommended, both as regards the con¬ 
venience of setting about it in regard to labour, 
and the ground being out of cropping. Many 
years ago, while living in the South of- Eng¬ 
land, I lifted two Althorp Crassane Pear-trees, 
which had been showing signs of their roots 
being too deep, and of having reached the 
chalk which formed the subsoil. The border 
being out of cropping, and not being particu¬ 
larly busy at the time, operations to raise their 
roots were commenced about the middle of 
July, by first covering the whole of the 
tree with mats, leaving the young growth of a 
foot to 18 in. in length untouched. The work 
of lifting and relaying the roots was done as 
speedily as possible by as many hands as could 
conveniently' get at it, and copious waterings 
were immediately given to the relaid roots, as 
soon as the earth was levelled in, while the 
foliage was syringed all over three or four times 
every day for about a fortnight. The young root¬ 
lets were soon forced into action, and the cover¬ 
ing of mats which had been on day and night 
