November 27, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
199 
sphere, arc advantageous in the vicinity of manufac¬ 
tories, and in large towns, or wherever large quantities 
of carbon are discharged into the air. ¥e should, 
therefore, have our manufactories surrounded with trees 
in the shape of hedgerows, or plantations growing in 
such a position that they will catch and filter through 
their leaves the clouds of smoke issuing from chimney 
stacks. 
He contended that there should be more trees about 
the thoroughfares of our large cities, and pointed to 
the injurious effects which the vitiated air of London 
was stated to have on its inhabitants. Turning to the 
influence of trees and plantations on crops, he remarked 
that inside a plantation the temperature never rises or 
falls so much as outside in the open, for plantations 
retain the sun’s heat, and discharge it after a manner 
that prevents excessive changes of temperature. Ex¬ 
treme variations of temperature are lessened by trees 
more in summer than in winter, and the influence of a 
plantation of broad-leaved trees is greater in summer 
and less in winter than the influence of an evergreen 
Pine plantation. As a necessary deduction from this, 
he advocated that plantations should be mixed with 
evergreen Pine trees. He did not share in the popular 
belief that crops come earlier to maturity in districts 
that are well w'ooded. Extensive plantations absorb 
immense quantities of water, and discharge a great 
part of it into the atmosphere. This brings about a 
moist condition of the local climate, and crops are 
bound to take a longer time in coming to maturity ; 
but plantations shelter the crops, enable them to come 
to full maturity, and also hinder the process of drying, 
so lengthening the period of exposure. Mr. Cumming 
illustrated his remarks by citing the Bin Plantation, 
near Huntly, and gave data of its influence on the 
contiguous crops as it gradually grew. 
Plantations regulated the rainfall, and he considered 
that by judicious enterprise, north-western parts of 
Aberdeenshire that suffered from droughts in spring 
and early summer could be benefited. The droughts 
might be considerably reduced, if not prevented al¬ 
together, by carrying out a judicious system of tree 
planting. Plantations break the force of the winds, 
fix the surface soil, encourage the growth of surface 
vegetation, and add to the moisture of the atmosphere. 
But in densely wooded countries the atmosphere be¬ 
comes overweighed with moisture, so that planting was 
susceptible of being overdone. The extent to which 
planting ought to be carried on could only be under¬ 
stood by close observation and long experience. It is 
estimated that four and a half per cent, of the land in 
Great Britain is under wood of one kind or other. This 
proportion of wood would be sufficient for climatic 
purposes were it all grown up, were it a full crop, and 
were it judiciously distributed. But it was not. If 
the hills and moorlands now destitute of trees were 
planted to the extent of about one-tenth of their area, 
care being taken to have the plantations so situated as 
to give the greatest amount of shelter to the agricultural 
lands, then we would, probably, find that the severity of 
our climate would be considerably reduced, and that the 
proportion of plantations necessary for agricultural 
lands would be small. Planting should precede the 
drainage of agricultural lands, because drainage dried 
up the surface water, and thus deprived the atmosphere 
of the amount of moisture necessary for the successful 
growth of crops. The extent of plantations would also 
be gauged according to the configuration of a district. 
On a low country a few plantations stretched across the 
direction of the prevailing winds would give sufficient 
shelter, but in a hilly district the wind required to be 
broken in each glen and hollow. On the motion of the 
president of the society, Mr. Alex. Robson, a very 
cordial vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Cumming. 
Mr. James Mowat, Aberdeen, read a capital paper on 
the Peach and Nectarine, and after a short discussion 
was awarded the thanks of the meeting. A similar 
compliment having been paid the president for his 
conduct in the chair, the meeting separated. 
Chrysanthemums at Carbert Castle.— In 
my notes on the grand show of Chrysanthemums at this 
place, published at p. 183, the name of the gardener 
•was inadvertently given as “ Mr. S. Fullin,” instead of 
“Mr. S. ~W. Fulton,” and I shall be obliged if you will 
allow me to make the needful correction, and all due 
apologies. According to promise, I send you some 
particulars of the specimens, the largest of which were 
as follows :—Elaine, 4| ft. in diameter, with thirty-five 
flowers about 7 ins. in diameter ; Mrs. G. Bundle, 5 ft. 
in diameter, with fifty-five good blooms; Lady Selborne, 
5 ft. in diameter, with forty-five flowers 6 ins. to 7 ins. 
in diameter ; Mr. G. Glenny, 5 ft. in diameter, with 
forty-three flowers in fine form. Another specimen of 
Mr. Bunn’s bore splendid blooms from 12 ins. to 13 ins. 
in circumference. On other specimens we noted blooms 
of Emily Dale, 7 ins. in diameter; Bismarck (Japanese), 
9 ins. in diameter ; Golden Empress of India, 9 ins. in 
diameter; Mrs. J. Laing (Japanese), magnificent blooms; 
Cullingfordii, very large ; Queen of England, deeply 
built flowers 7 ins. to 8 ins. in diameter ; Lord Wolseley, 
very fine ; Mdlle. Lacroix, flowers 8 ins. in diameter 
a great advance on Lady Selborne ; R. Ballantine, 6 ins. 
to 7 ins. in diameter ; Countess of Beauregard, 11 ins. 
in diameter ; Fabias de Maderanaz, 10 in. in diameter ; 
and Duchess of Albany, 11 ins. in diameter. These are 
only a few of the fine blooms on view, and which were 
much admired by all the party.— D. P. 
--:>£<--- 
The Amateurs’ Garden, 
THE GREENHOUSE. 
The low temperature now prevailing, and the great 
amount of moisture in the air will necessitate extra 
care in ventilating, and will also render a little fire-heat 
advantageous in preventing an undue accumulation of 
damj). Avoid, however, a high temperature and a close 
atmosphere as much as possible, or the plants will soon 
suffer rather seriously. Many Chrysanthemums are 
fast losing their attractions, the blooms fading and 
damping, and it becomes necessary to 'remove some of 
the plants from the house if it is wished to keep it bright 
with flowers. Most of the plants that have been under 
glass for the past few weeks are producing shoots from 
the base, and as these are early and readily obtained, they 
are commonly taken as cuttings for the next season’s 
supply. If, from necessity, this must be done, the 
plants should not be placed out of doors at once, but 
in a cool house or shed until the cuttings are taken, 
when the plants may be placed out and planted in 
borders, as, except in the case of trained specimens, 
they are scarcely worth growing in pots a second year 
if large blooms are wanted, though for ordinary decora¬ 
tive purposes they will be quite asjuseful. 
When there is a surplus stock of named plants in the 
borders, by far the best cuttings are obtained from 
them—stout, firm, hardy shoots, often furnished with 
a few small roots ; and with good treatment these make 
vigorous useful plants, in all respects more satisfactory 
than those from weakly-drawn cuttings. A good 
beginning is of the highest importance in the culture 
of all plants, for weak partially exhausted cuttings and 
crowded drawn seedlings rarely develop into robust 
plants, even when the greatest skill is brought to bear 
upon them. 
At the warm end of the greenhouse, we generally 
arrange a select group of rather more tender plants than 
those which occupy the other portion of the structure. 
At the present time, Cypripedium insigne is the 
principal feature there, the half-dozen plants we grow 
hearing a good number of flowers, which last for several 
weeks. This is an excellent Orchid for winter flowering, 
and amateurs do not seem to be fully conscious of its 
merits, or the ease with which it can be grown. Like 
most Orchids, even those which require cool-house 
treatment, it will not thrive all the season in the 
greenhouse ; but in a Vinery, or any house where a 
similar temperature and a moist atmosphere can be 
provided, it will make growth freely, and produce its 
flowers in abundance. When in bloom the plants can 
be employed in almost any house, even in rooms, and the 
blooms last for a considerable time in an intermediate 
temperature, whether on the plant, or cut and placed 
in water. Another plant we employ in a similar way, 
though it is really an occupant of our stoves, and re¬ 
quires heat for a good portion of the year, is Epi- 
phyllum. There are many beautiful varieties of this, 
and when in flower they have a charming appearance 
arranged with a few Ferns to conceal the stems which 
support the heads of branches. In richness of colours, 
and crystal-like semi-transparency of the petals, they 
are scarcely inferior to Orchids, and are, moreover, 
cheap, and quickly grown. A few Epacrises are begin¬ 
ning to contribute their flowers, and though somew-hat 
formal in appearance, they are valuable plants at this 
time of year. —Scolytus. 
MESSRS. SUTTON & SONS 
POTATO EXPERIMENTS, 1834-35-86. 
In 1883, Lord Cathcart received from Mr. Baker, of 
Kew, specimens of the wild form of Solanum tuberosum, 
under the name of Solanum Maglia. In March, 1884, 
the produce of these tubers was sent by Lord Cathcart 
to Messrs. Sutton & Sons, who crossed the flowers 
obtained from the tubers with pollen from the cultivated 
Potato, and the seed resulting from this cross was sown 
in 1885. Subjoined is a table giving particulars of the 
produce in the autumn of 1885 of each grain of seed, 
and another table giving the produce of planting the 
1885 crop again during the past season. 
No. 
Produce, 
1885. 
Produce, 
1886. 
No. 
Produce, 
1885. 
Produce, 
1886. 
lbs. 
OZS. 
• 
lbs. 
OZS. 
lbs. 
OZS. 
1 
19 grains 
None 
14 
1 
n 
53 
2 
2 
6 
3 3 
3 3 
16 
1 
101 
\7 
4 
3 
11 
3 3 
17 
1 
5i 
122 
6 
4 
11 
0 
14 
18 
0 
U 
11 
2 
5 
Si 
OZS. 
54 
0 
19 
2 
121 
83 
6 
6 
X 
2 
3 3 
10 
5 
20 
0 
10 
43 
10 
7 
4 
33 
24 
8 
21 
0 
39 
14 
8 
11 
33 
56 
2 
22 
1 
91 
10 
12 
9 
10J 
22 
6 
23 
0 
11 
47 
13 
10 
7i 
2 
4 
24 
0 
| 
6 
3 
11 
5 
31 
14 
26 
0 
6f 
20 
7 
12 
181 
} 3 
56 
15 
27 
1 
24 
6 
0 
lbs. 
ozs. 
28 
0 
H 
23 
14 
13 
2 
1 
43 
9 
Second Series of Crosses made in 1885. 
Male parent, “ Sutton’s Reading Russet ” ; female 
parent, wild Solanum tuberosum, from Kew. 
No. 
Produce. 
No. 
Produce. 
lbs. 
OZS. 
lbs. 
OZS. 
1 
0 
2 
12 
0 
4 
2 
5 
15 
13 
0 
X 
3 
3 
153 
15 
0 
Ilf 
4 
4 
15 
16 
0 
9i 
5 
4 
6 
17 
1 small tuber 
6 
0 
13J 
18 
0 
4 
7 
2 
12J 
19 
1 
3 
8 
1 
24 
20 
0 
64 
9 
4 
14 
21 
0 
_1 
10 
0 
7i 
22 
0 
44 
11 
1 
Hi 
23 
0 
11 
1 4 
Male parent, “Victoria”; female parent, wild 
Solanum tuberosum, from Kew. 
No. 
Produce. 
No. 
Produce. 
lbs. 
OZS. 
lbs. 
OZS. 
25 
4 
3 
30 
4 
144 
26 
4 
8 
31 
0 
8f 
27 
5 
84 
32 
0 
14 
29 
1 
13 
Male parent, “Walker’s Regent”; female parent, 
wild Solanum tuberosum, from Kew. 
No. 34. 9f ozs. 
-- 
DEVEiOPMENT of Silloth.— The public who are 
on the outlook for new watering places, will he glad to 
learn that the directors of the North British Railway 
Company have just taken a step towards the develop¬ 
ment and improvement of Silloth, with a view to 
increase the attraction of the general public, and to 
induce builders to provide further much-needed accom¬ 
modation. The directors have sought the advice of 
Messrs. Little & Ballantyne, of Carlisle, who have 
executed a plan for providing shelter and ornament, by 
breaking up the great stretch of green sward, between 
the parade and the sea, by ornamental belts, mounds, 
rockeries and clumps of flow-ering and evergreen shrubs. 
The health-giving Pine, so great an attraction at 
Bournemouth, will be largely employed, and the whole 
appearance.of the town and recreation grounds will be 
completely altered and largely extended. A public 
meeting has just been held at Silloth, in order to 
support the movement of the railway directors, by 
resolving that a small rate be levied to provide funds 
for planting all the streets of the town with avenue 
trees, and thus give them the appearance of continental 
boulevards. The trees will he planted 30 ft. apart, and 
will line each side of the whole of the streets. They 
will consist of Sycamores, Norway Maples, Elms, 
Chestnuts, Limes, &c. Much satisfaction was expressed 
by the citizens at their meeting, of the action taken by 
the railway company, and of the general scheme as 
proposed by Messrs. Little and Ballantyne. 
