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THE GARDENING WORLD. 
3uay 28, 1887. 
Jerusalem Cherry Tree.— The invention of 
popular names continues apace, but the great question 
remains, whether they will be generally adopted by those 
classes for whose benefit they are intended. If a confusing 
and ridiculous mixture or compound of other names 
would ensure this end, then popular names generally 
are certain to make successful headway. It is difficult 
to see how a combination of the names of various things 
can render the compound more easily retained in the 
memory of those who object to botanical names. The 
subject under discussion is neither a Cherry Tree nor 
does it come from Jerusalem, being no other than the 
common berry-bearing Solanum pseudo-capsicum. The 
same objection, of course, applies to the Jerusalem Arti¬ 
choke, neither of the names of which are applicable. 
The Cape Gooseberry is a member of the same family as 
the Potato, and comes from South America, not the 
Cape. Prunus persica or Persica vulgaris, the Peach, 
received the names of persica and Malum persicum, 
because the Peach was believed to be a native of Persia. 
—B. B. 
Fruit Prospects. —On looking through several 
large fruit plantations the other day, it was gratifying 
to see how remarkably well all kinds of fruit trees 
were looking, and that by their present appearance 
there is likely to be a wonderfully heavy crop. Apple 
trees were literally studded with fine blossom-buds ; 
and Plums, Cherries and Pears were a sheet of fine 
healthy blossoms. I have been told by old practical 
fruit growers that not for some previous years have 
they known the Nut trees to look more promising than 
they do at the present time. Bush fruits are also very 
promising. Peaches and Nectarines have set plenty of 
fruit. The trees, when in flower, were a pleasing sight, 
being a complete mass of strong healthy bloom, and the 
young growths are at present remarkably clean and free 
of insects, and there is at present not much blister or 
curl to be seen on the leaves. We mulch heavily all 
our old trees as soon as the nailing is finished. This, 
I find, greatly benefits them in their early stages of 
growth, and I have also noticed that insects are not 
nearly so numerous and troublesome as when left till 
later on in the season. At one time the Strawberry 
plants did not look so over-promising, the severe 
winter having told on them. Mulching early in the 
winter protected the roots considerably, and the plants 
are now green and vigorous, throwing up their flower- 
spikes in abundance, and show signs of a good and 
plentiful yield. Of Apricots we have a good average 
crop.— 3. Markham, Mereworth Castle, Maidstone. 
Magnolia conspicua Soulangeana. —It is 
with much pleasure we learn that this fine tree succeeds 
well in Scotland, even against a wall without pro¬ 
tection. Mr. Rushton sends us some fine sweetly 
scented flowers from Cherwood, Corstorphine, near 
Edinburgh. The flowers are similar in structure 
to those of the type, but the fleshy sepals and 
petals are purple externally on the lower half. The 
plant is a supposed hybrid between the Chinese M. 
conspicua and the closely allied Japanese M. purpurea, 
which has the sepals and petals purple externally, 
excepting the tip, and white internally. It may be 
interesting to add that it is grown in a made-up border 
21 ft. deep, resting on the whinstone of Corstorphine 
Hill. Being deciduous, it is better able to withstand 
the severity of Scotch winters than if it were evergreen 
like M. grandiflora. 
Notes on Cabbages. —I quite agree with your 
correspondent, Mr. Markham, that Ellam’s Early is 
quite a little gem in its way ; among the seven or 
eight varieties that I am gro'wing this year, it is by far 
the best stock. The Cabbage is small, sweet and tender; 
in fact, the Cabbage for a nobleman or gentleman’s 
table. We have been cutting it for over a month from 
a west border, but like many other good things it has 
one bad fault, which is that when hearted and we have 
a downpour of rain it cracks at once. Early Eversham 
I do not know ; my favourite Cabbage is Butcher’s 
"Warwickshire, this grows into good-sized heads, which 
suits my purpose better than any other. In conclusion, 
I am delighted to know that Mr. Markham, like myself, 
can grow good Cabbages without that everlasting 
digging.— Pi. Gilbert, Burghley. 
An Ornamental Pear Tree. —When one 
speaks of Pear trees, economy is more often associated 
with them than ornament ; yet there are some varieties 
that combine both qualities, such as Beurre Diel, which 
is notable for its fine pyramidal habit and the pro¬ 
fusion of its snow-white blossoms. Whether grown in 
the natural way, or pruned pyramidally in the true 
orthodox fashion, Henri Capron, when in bloom no 
less than in fruit, is a truly ornamental object. This 
arises from the great size of its snow-white blossoms, 
which are the largest of any cultivated Pear tree. One 
of the old pyramidally-trained trees in the Gardens of 
the Royal Horticultural Society, Chiswick, for some 
time previously to the recent severe gale might have 
been seen a mass of the purest white, the branches 
being almost entirely hidden with flowers. The latter 
are also notable for frequently producing supernumerary 
petals, showing a tendency to become double—a 
character rarely, if ever, seen in other varieties of the 
Pear. It may be mentioned that the Jargonelle bears 
flowers second in size to Henri Capron. 
Sedum Sieboldi medio-variegatus. —This 
interesting variety of Siebold’s Stonecrop is specially 
remarkable on account of its variegation, each leaf 
bearing in the centre a creamy blotch. The foliage is 
fleshy, and on the outside of the creamy blotch glaucous 
in colour. The leaves are produced in threes, 
arranged round the decumbent stems in the fashion of 
a whorl, and these being thickly set together form dense 
and compact tufts at this season of the year, rendering 
the general appearance of the plant highly con¬ 
spicuous. During the summer the stems elongate to 
the extent of from 6 ins. to 9 ins., producing during 
August and September terminal cymes or clusters of 
the prettiest of pink flowers. It is well adapted for 
pot or rockwork culture ; if the latter, some protection 
must be afforded, as the plant is catalogued under the 
designation of “half-hardy.” With me, however, 
during the late severe weather, it has, on more than 
one occasion, been subjected to a temperature of 8° 
below the freezing point. I cultivate it in 4-J-in. pots 
for the decoration of the greenhouse ; it is also very 
suitable for the window or table. My lady friends 
invariably exclaim “how pretty.” It thrives well in 
good sandy loam, mixed with little nodules of charcoal 
or sand-stone. It is not yet too late to propagate by 
sub-division of the root-stock, or to purchase for grow¬ 
ing on for autumnal flowering.— C. B. G., Acton, W. 
-- 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
Chrysanthemums being now established after the 
last shift, have been subject to an all-round stopping, 
and removed from the pits on to an ash border out 
of doors, where the growth made will be much more 
satisfactory than if kept in the pits. Keep the plants 
regularly supplied with water, but avoid the use of 
manure of any kind at this season, unless through 
the press of other work the pots become full of roots, 
when, if the necessary final shift cannot be given, 
a little soot-water may with advantage be used. If 
time can possibly be found, the compost for this shift 
should at once be prepared, so that it may be turned, 
and the materials become thoroughly incorporated by 
the time it is required. The same remark applies to 
the soil for the layering of the Strawberries for forcing 
purposes. We have given the final shift into 8-in. 
pots to the summer-flowering batch of Chrysanthemums, 
and although these are not generally liked, as being 
somewhat out of season, we find them very useful for 
staging purposes in the greenhouses. 
Cinerarias will now be going past their best, and 
should at once be removed from the greenhouse to 
make way for other subjects — notably, herbaceous 
Calceolarias. If it is desired to retain any sorts for 
propagating purposes, do not cut them down on 
removing them from the house, but store them out of 
doors in some sheltered position on coal-ashes, where 
they may be kept watered and allowed to die down 
gradually ; in this way the suckers will come much 
stronger. We pricked off the first sowing, and they 
are placed in a north pit by themselves, where they can 
be kept close for a few days until they start, after 
which they will be freely ventilated, encouraged to 
make as sturdy a growth as possible, and be kept 
sprinkled overhead night and morning. 
Green-Fly. —Should there be any trace of green-fly 
on the herbaceous Calceolarias, fumigate at once, re¬ 
peating the dose to effect a thorough clearance, or the 
flowers are quickly spoiled by the deposit. The same 
remark applies to the Pelargoniums, which are now 
fast approaching their best ; they should also be staged 
as thinly as possible and freely ventilated. In the case 
of bright sunshine a light net or other shading should 
be given to the houses containing these, and, in fact, 
all other flowering plants ; a light dewing overhead 
with the syringe every evening will greatly assist in 
keeping them fresh. 
Lachenalias are now over, and may be put into the 
cold pits to ripen off, gradually withholding the supply 
of water that they may not ripen prematurely. Callas, 
too, may now be removed out of doors to ripen off 
preparatory to being planted out, but they must always 
be given a full supply of water. We have planted out 
our old cut-back plants of Solanum ; the young ones, 
however, are not yet quite strong enough, so will be 
kept in the frames for a time. 
THE FRUIT HOUSES. 
Figs are now making a free growth, and have been 
looked over and regularly stopped, so as to obtain a 
good second crop, which is, generally speaking, very 
valuable for dessert purposes where this fruit does not 
succeed out of doors. We have thinned off a great 
quantity of fruit from the late Peach trees, but, of 
course, not giving the final thinning, which is much 
better deferred until the stoning period is passed. 
According to the time the fruit may be required, so 
must the temperature of the house be kept ; generally 
speaking, early in August is when this crop is most 
in demand. Bear in mind it is a dangerous practice 
to keep the Peach houses too hot until after they have 
stoned, as it very frequently results in the loss of the 
greater part of the crop ; although our house is heated 
we never make use of it after once the fruit is set, 
unless to forward the crop, to be ripe by a given date. 
Early Grapes. — Generally speaking, the early 
Grapes will now be colouring, and this is the time to 
indulge in liberal treatment by frequent applications of 
liquid manure to the borders, both inside and out. So 
far, the rainfall has been with us very light, and unless 
this is noted the roots in the outer border are apt to 
suffer. Evaporating pans placed on the pipes, and 
kept replenished with strong manure, are of much 
service in keeping the foliage clean and healthy, thus 
ensuring first-class fruit. Air must always be admitted 
to the houses in which the fruit is colouring, both 
front and top, thus producing a thorough circulation. 
If anything approaching closeness prevails, there will 
be but little bloom upon the fruit; and whatever 
damping down is necessary, let it be done about 
mid-day. 
Strawberries. —We have removed all pot Straw¬ 
berries from the vineries and Peach houses into pits. 
It is rather difficult to keep them free from red-spider 
at this season. 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
General Work. —We are busy now hacking through 
all the Potato squares, preparatory to moulding up. 
The earliest kinds have not come up at all regularly, 
even now some are just breaking through the soil, 
others 1 ft. high ; all second earlies look wonderfully 
well, late ones only here and there are visible. Runner 
Beans are well up, but as the weather was so piercingly 
cold, we took the precaution of protecting both these 
and the dwarf French with Spruce boughs. We have 
been compelled to water newly planted-out Lettuce, 
and also the Celery ; while the weather continues so 
variable, things make but little progress. 
We have also gone through the Raspberry quarters, 
removing all surplus suckers, so that more strength 
may be given to those required for next season’s fruit¬ 
ing ; afterwards the ground will be well scuffled, which 
will help to kill small weeds, and also prevent the 
surface baking. We have removed all the trusses of 
flower from the young plantation of Strawberries, as it 
is from these we layer our stock for forcing ; runners 
are making good growth, and preparations must now 
be made to secure them. Where straw, which has 
been used in the stables, has to be used in the fruiting 
squares, it is advisable to put it on in good time so that 
it may become sweetened, or the fruit is apt to taste ; 
added to which, put on thus early, the probability is 
that rain will assist in cleansing it. 
Look well to the sowing of all salads, choosing now 
a cool position for Radishes ; Lettuce sown out of doors 
are now quite ready for planting out, and will be at¬ 
tended to as soon as the weather is favourable.— 
Walter Child, Croomc Court. 
