68 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
October 3, 1885. 
28tli, played liavoc with some early Pea crop, destroy¬ 
ing bloom wholesale, and in not a few cases killing the 
plants as well. If notin the same year, at least very 
near to it, we saw just such an early frost as visited us 
on Sunday morning last, so early as September 27th. 
Really we can seldom build upon more than one third 
of the year as being quite free from frost, thus making 
our summer short, and too often far from being merry. 
Pergularia odoratissima- —Mr.W. J. Ireland, writing 
from Headfort, Kells, remarks that this fragrant 
climber is now flowering abundantly, planted out in a 
narrow border of peat and loam, with plenty of drain¬ 
age, and although not showy is deserving of a place in 
every house that is kept a little warmer than the 
ordinary greenhouse. In habit it is very similar to the 
Stephanotis, and like that “queen of the hot-house 
flowers ” should be grown near the glass, and occa¬ 
sionally receive a dose of weak liquid manure. Insect 
pests are very troublesome to it, and must not be allowed 
to make headway, or if mealy-bug gets into the clusters 
of flowers it is difficult to dislodge it, so that it is 
necessary to keep it thoroughly clean. 
- *; -- 
“PALMETTE VERRIER.” 
What is a “ Palmette verrier” was the question put 
to us a few days ago by some bothy men who had come 
across this term in a gardening paper, and there being 
no explanation of the term in the article in which it 
appeared, the following extract from Robinson’s Parks, 
Promenades and Gardens of Paris gives the informa¬ 
tion asked for. — ‘ ‘ The Palmette verrier is named after 
the fruit gardener at Ecole Regionale de la Saulsaie, 
with whom it was first observed. To form the tree we 
have in the first instance to plant an ordinary young 
plant of a desired kind, and of course that should be of 
the primest kind, both as to quality and constitution, 
as so much care is about to exercised to make it a hand¬ 
some and long-lived ornament to the garden, and 
valuable aid to the fruit room. In forming this, as all 
other trees, the usual and most economical custom is 
to choose plants about a year old from the time of 
grafting, or what we usualty call ‘ maidens, ’ and which 
when planted are cut down to within 1 ft. of the 
surface of the soil. Three well-placed buds are allowed 
to remain and form three shoots, the two side ones 
going to form the lowest and longest branches of this 
handsome form of tree. 
“ It is quite easy to buy trees a little more advanced to 
make the same form more quickly, but they will be 
more expensive the further they are advanced beyond 
what is called the ! maiden ’ stage. The young trees 
should be allowed to remain a year or so in their 
positions before being cut, so that they may have rooted 
well. At the first pruning the young tree is cut down 
to 1 ft. or so of the ground, and just above three suit¬ 
able eyes, one at each side to form the two lowermost 
branches, the other a little above them and in front to 
continue the erect axis. Of course all the eyes except 
those that are to send forth the first three shoots must 
be suppressed in spring. During the first year of the 
young trees possessing three shoots care must be taken 
(as at all times) to secure a perfect equilibrium between 
them. If one grows stronger than the others it must 
be loosened from its position on the wall and lowered, 
this ■will divert the sap so as to strengthen the rest. 
Nothing is more easily conducted than the sap -when 
we pay a little attention to it, if not it soon rushes to¬ 
wards the higher points and spoils the symmetry of the 
tree. At the second pruning the centre shoot is cut 
back nearly to its full length, but the two side ones are 
shortened by about a third of the length ; if one side 
happens to be stronger than the other the stronger one 
is cut a little shorter. 
“During the second year no more branches must be 
allowed to grow, simply because the trainer desires to 
throw all the strength he can into the lower branches, 
which are to be the longest. Sometimes, however, the 
strength of the lower branches will permit the second 
stage of the branches to be made during the second year 
of training. At the third pruning, the central stem is 
cut 6 ins. or so above the previous one, which is indi¬ 
cated by a slight ring, and a third of the new growth 
of the side branches cut off; at the fourth pruning, 
longer lengths of the branches are left, and at the end 
of the following growing season, the specimen will have 
grown sufficiently to allow the lower branches to be 
turned up towards the top of the wall, and begin to 
look shapely. Thus, by this time the two corner 
branches will reach out at right angles from the tree, 
and be turned upwards, thus, resembling a section of a 
broad flat bottomed boat. Each year, or as fast as it can 
be done, two branches are trained similarly to these, 
and thus a perfect tree is made to cover the space of 
wall allotted to it. Above all things, is is necessary to 
keep the flow of sap equal, not only for the sake of 
symmetry, but also to insure perfect health and fertility, 
for if one part be allowed to grow grossly at the expense 
of another, an awkward state of things will soon take 
place. ” « 
We hope the foregoing remarks will satisfy the 
enquirer. We are, above all things, desirous of making 
The Gardening World a useful aid to the gardeners 
of the future, now occupying the bothies at our large 
places, and shall always be pleased to receive and 
answer queries to the best of our ability. 
SELECT HARDY PERENNIALS. 
( Continued f rom 2 >. 54.) 
Lupines polyphyllus.-— This is an old-fashioned 
perennial, and one generally well known, seeing that it 
is of somewhat frequent occurrence in gardens. It is 
best suited for the back part of the herbaceous border. 
It grows 3 ft. or more high, producing long compact 
spikes of blue flowers, and is a good shrubbery border 
plant, and very useful in the wild garden. There is 
also a white variety, and both are quite hardy and re¬ 
produced abundantly from seeds. 
Lupinus Nootkatensi.s. —This is very distinct from 
the preceding, and a capital plant for the second rowin the 
border or for the rockery. It is of close compact growth, 
smaller in all its parts than those of the polyphyllus 
type, and gi-ows about 15 ins. high, with spikes of light 
blue flowers. This is a good plant, and deserves en¬ 
couragement. 
Lupinus arbop.eus. — Here we have, as the specific 
name implies, a shrubby member of the genus, and, I 
believe, the only one. When fully grown, this is 
generally 4 ft. high, sometimes more. It is a distinct 
evergreen shrub, and as such very serviceable. It 
flowers for a considerable time throughout the summer, 
when flowering plants in shrubberies are not abundant, 
and therefore is all the more welcome. The silken 
down of its leaves, combined with a glaucous hue in its 
foliage, is not the least attractive feature respecting it. 
Then we have an abundance of bright yellow flowers in 
terminal racemes which are very showy, and all these 
qualities combined give us at once an invaluable plant 
for warm sheltered positions, or for the shrubbery. 
It may be increased by cuttings or by seeds; cuttings 
taken any time from July to the middle of October will 
generally root freely. These should be about 4 ins. 
long and stripped off with a heel attached, and inserted 
under handliglits in a shady position. Seeds of any of 
the Lupines may be sown as soon as ripe. There are 
also some very pretty and effective annual and biennial 
kinds in greater variety of colour than is to be found 
among those of perennial duration, and all assist in 
making a garden cheerful and gay. 
Lychnis. — In this genus we have a group as ex¬ 
tensive as it is varied, and one which contains its full 
compliment of choice Alpines as well as valuable 
flowering perennials, which for the most part are all 
inhabitants of our gardens, and none more so than the 
old scarlet Lychnis, a familiar acquaintance no doubt 
with many who must well remember the fiery scarlet capi¬ 
tate heads of this plant, a colour which for brilliancy 
is not surpassed by the Zonal Pelargonium of the 
present day. This is Lychnis ehalcedoniea, and then 
comes its double form, a most valuable perennial, pro¬ 
ducing fine heads of vermilion-scarlet flowers. These 
grow barely 3 ft. high, and both are good for cutting. 
The latter is among the most attractive of hardy peren¬ 
nials ; the first named may be propagated freely by 
seeds, the latter not so, and the only sure way is by 
careful division, which may be done any time from 
now till April, excepting in the dead months of winter. 
Lychnis diurna rubra flore-plena. —This is 
the double Rose Campion, concerning which I think 
there is a little confusion, as it is often found in plant 
.lists under the name of dioica. Be this as it may it is 
one of the best perennials and a handsome border plant, 
one whose sterling merit entitles it to very extensive 
cultivation. It forms a dense cushion of vigorous 
leaves close to the ground, and from these issue numer¬ 
ous flowering stems ; from April onward through the 
summer myriads of flowers are produced, the best 
display being, however, to the end of June. Its large 
double crimson-rose-coloured flowers are very effective, 
and only need to be once seen to be appreciated. It is 
of free robust growth, about 2 ft. high, and a plant 
that will grow in any ordinary kitchen garden soil. 
Lychnis Haageana. —Even dwarfer than the pre¬ 
ceding, this seldom rises higher than 15 ins., and in 
general aspect is widely different from all the rest. 
This species and its numerous forms are all easily and 
freely raised from seeds, they are remarkable for the 
brilliancy of their flowers, which are of every con¬ 
ceivable shade of colour, from scarlet to pure white, and 
nearly 2 ins. across. Nothing in its day makes a 
prettier bed than a mixture of these in bright array, and 
blending unceremoniously together, they are certainly 
very pleasing and effective. With good effect a few 
seeds may be scattered over the rockery hither and 
thither, which, when they spring up and flower will be 
very welcome ; their culture is very easy, and all are 
quite hardy. In this case, the flowers are produced in 
terminal aud axillary clusters, the latter, not unfre- 
quently flowering close to the ground. 
Lychnis viscaria p.ubro plena. —I can give the 
reader no better or more accurate idea of the extreme 
beauty and usefulness of this plant than by comparing it 
to a fine intermediate double Stock, in so far as its quality 
is concerned, though this would not be accurate in 
respect of its free-flowering. As a dwarf rock or border 
plant, it is not too much to say that it is one of the 
very best of hardy plants ; this is not saying a trifle, 
when we consider the great number of very fine peren¬ 
nials there are in cultivation at the present time. It 
is very distinct from all else, and grows about a foot 
high, the leaves are narrow and arranged in close 
compact tufts, from which spring the somewhat slender 
flower stems, furnished with large double flowers of a 
fiery rose, and arranged in close compact spikes. It is 
free-blooming and perfectly hardy in all localities, and 
a plant whose merits cannot be too highly praised. It 
is increased best by division, and also by cuttings 
stripped off from the main body of the plant, and 
inserted in sandy soil under handliglits. 
Lychnis yespertina plena.— The last of this group 
to which I will now allude is Lychnis vespertina 
plena, also known as dioca albo plena, though best re¬ 
membered perhaps by the popular name of “the Double 
White Campion.” This has no equal among hardy 
plants for floriferousness, and it is not only a gem, but 
one which is anything but common. Though only a 
variety of the white Campion so common in cornfields 
and on waste lands, yet it is scarcely known. It forms 
when established a pyramidal bush, composed of 
flowering stems about 3 ft. high and as much through, 
and flowers in the wildest profusion from June to 
October. I have had quantities of its flowers over 2 in. 
across. These are very double, pure white, and highly 
fragrant; what more than this could we desire? I am 
strongly of opinion that when its value is fully realised 
it will be much more in demand than now, it may almost 
he regarded as a perpetual bloomer, for some plants, 
which I lifted some two or three years since, continued 
flowering till Christmas time, and a plant even now, 
Sept. 26th, in the open ground is full of flower b.uds 
which would expand if protected. — J. 
( To he continued ). 
