680 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
June 25, 1887. 
A JUBILEE BOUQUET FOR THE 
QUEEN. 
The immense bouquet of Orchid flowers prepared for 
presentation to the Queen, on the occasion of her 
Jubilee, by Messrs. F. Sander & Co., partook of the 
nature of a floral design, consisting of a globular mass 
some 5 ft. in diameter, surmounted by a crown wrought 
with yellow Dendrobiums, such as D. densiflorum, 
D. suavissimum and D. thyrsiflorum, the latter of 
which with its golden and white blooms occupied that 
part of the crown which should encircle the head. 
Amongst these Oncidium macrantham, 0. sphacelatum, 
0. ampliatum majus, 0. Marshallianum and 0. 
flexuosum were interlaced. 
The groundwork of the main body of the design 
consisted of an endless variety of Cattleyas, conspicuous 
amongst which were many forms of C. Mossiae and C. 
Mendelii. A notable flower was the white C. Wagneri, 
cut from a 300 guinea plant, and forwarded by Sir 
Trevor Lawrence. C. gigas Sanderiana, with its huge 
deeply coloured lip, and Lselia purpurata were also very 
conspicuous. In front of the design, and immediately 
over the ground-work of Cattleyas, were the letters 
V. R. I., representing Victoria, Queen and Empress. 
They were wrought with the orange-scarlet flowers of 
Epidendrum vitellinum majus, and each letter was a 
foot in length. 
Into the groundwork of Cattleya, bold and prominent 
flowers such as Brassavola Digbyana, Anguloa Clowesii, 
A. Ruckeri, Masdevallia Chimsera, M. c. Roezlii, 
Cypripedium rarishi, and C. grandis were inserted. 
The whole design was beautifully relieved by leaves of 
Odontoglossum crispum, and a wreath of sprays of 
Ccelogyne pandurata, C. Dayana, Odontoglossum 
crispum, 0. citrosmum, 0. polyxanthum, 0. vexil- 
larium, 0. maeulatum, 0. cordatum, Brassia verrucosa, 
Oncidium crispum, 0. pnetextum, 0. hastiferum 
Roezlii, Aerides Fieldingi, and the white Calanthe vera- 
trifolia. The design was photographed on Monday 
afternoon by Mr. Stevens, and presented to the Queen 
at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, being exhibited in 
the vase won by Messrs. F. Sander & Co. at the recent 
Dresden exhibition. In all fifty-two different species 
of Orchids were exhibited. 
--- 
SUMMER PRUNING OF FRUIT 
TREES. 
In all gardens of note, and where good crops of fruit 
are deemed important, summer pruning will now be 
receiving some attention ; and in the interest of those 
whose experience in hardy fruit growing is limited, a 
few remarks on the subject may be of some assistance. 
At the outset it must be stated that the importance of 
the work cannot well be over estimated, as on it depends 
to a certain extent the well-doing of not only the 
current year’s crop, but of that of the succeeding year, 
and which being the case, it behoves those most 
immediately concerned to exercise care and judgment, 
at the same time dispelling all preconceived ideas that 
the work consists only of shortening back the young 
shoots of all trees alike, and at one and the same time. 
Peaches and Nectarines take the first place amongst 
stone fruits, both in regard to their value and as being 
the earliest to push into' growth. If they have been 
properly attended to up to the present time they will 
have been disbudded twice or thrice, so that all that is 
necessary for the remainder of the season will be to 
nail or tie in, as the case may be, all young shoots 
required for next year’s bearing as they advance in 
growth ; and let us here recommend that a space of 
fully 3 ins. should intervene between each one. This 
will insure greater certainty of ripening the wood 
properly, and at the same time allow of sufficient room 
for the full development of the leaves, thereby pro¬ 
ducing strong and plump fruit-buds for another season. 
Vigorous young shoots will frequently push lateral 
growths, which must never be allowed to extend, but 
be pinched back to the first leaf—that is, on old and 
fully-established trees ; but -with younger ones the case 
is somewhat different, as the principal object should be 
to allow them to fill their allotted space and make 
good trees in the shortest possible time. 
Apricots next demand attention, and all that is 
needful to be done to them is simply to cut back all 
breast-wood to three or four leaves, and to nail in young 
shoots for filling up vacant spaces which have been 
created by older branches dying off. 
Plums, both wall-trained and pyramidal, I always 
think should be left till the last week in June ; and 
when the crop is under average and the trees in good 
health, it is advisable not to cut back the young shoots 
too closely ; indeed, two-thirds of their length will be 
sufficient, the rest to be removed at the winter pruning. 
Pears may be treated in much the same way, and as 
this system differs somewhat from the orthodox plan— 
or, rather, from that which is so regarded—I may be 
allowed briefly to state my reasons for advocating it. 
Given a strong healthy tree of either Pear or Plum, cut 
back all the young shoots not required for extending 
the trees, and what is the result 1 Why, simply that 
in nine cases out of ten many of the buds which should 
go to form flowering ones for the succeeding year will 
be forced into premature growth shortly after being 
subjected to this close cutting-back process ; whereas, 
if they had only two-thirds of their length cut off the 
contrary would have been the case. Apples grown on 
the restrictive system may be treated similarly. 
We now come to small fruits, but of these there are 
only two requiring our notice, viz., Gooseberries and 
Currants, and of the latter only red and white varieties, 
whilst of the first named only those trained to walls. 
Anyone who has not hitherto practised summer pruning 
as here advocated for Currants and Gooseberries would, 
I feel sure, after a first trial resort to the plan again. 
The yoirng shoots are cut back about the third week 
in June to within four or five leaves of their base, and 
it only remains to be said that you will be rewarded by 
larger fruit and more of it than would be the case if 
they were only treated to the customary winter pruning. 
HARDY PLANTS FROM 
TOTTENHAM. 
A fine assortment of herbaceous plants in flower 
comes from Mr. Thomas S. Ware, The Hale Farm 
Nurseries, Tottenham. The gorgeous effect produced 
by such gigantic flowers as Peeonia albiflora and Papaver 
bracteatum, might well kindle a love for them in those 
who have hitherto looked upon hardy plants with 
indifference. The flowers of the former are pure white, 
single, and over 6 ins. in diameter when fully expanded; 
the bed from which they were taken is now a glorious 
sight. If flattened out, the Poppy-flowers would be 
about 10 ins. across. Papaver bracteata prsecox is 
an early variety. Helianthus occidentalis with large 
yellow flowers would appear to be the first Sunflower of 
the season ; Helianthus Inula glandulosa, with orange- 
yellow flowers, is also a choice kind. The Hemerocallis 
are now fine, and amongst those sent was a large flower¬ 
ing form of H. flava, with clear yellow flowers ; and 
H. Dumortieri, deep yellow, but heavily shaded with 
orange-buff externally. Both are excellent border 
flowers. Pieonia officinalis lobata is a deep crimson 
single-flowered form, which would be acceptable to 
some. Lychnis viscaria splendens plena is a deep rosy 
red double form of the German Catchfly, and a desirable 
plant at all times, whether for the herbaceous border or 
rockery. Another scarlet-red rock-plant of recent 
introduction is Heuchera sanguinea, the best of all the 
species, and destined to become universally popular. 
Delphinium nudicaule is better known, and a choice 
species whether for pot-work or planting out. The old- 
fashioned Centaurea montana is still a favourite and 
very useful plant for cut-flower purposes ; the typical 
blue form was accompanied by the rose and the white 
—C. m. rosea and C. m. alba respectively. As a 
substitute for Adiantum foliage for mixing with these 
hardy subjects, what could be better than Thalictrum 
adiantifolium ? _ 
THE SEA HOLLY. 
Whether planted on the rockery in the herbaceous 
border, or isolated by itself, the Sea Holly, Eryngium 
maritimum, exhibits great individuality of character 
when well grown. In most gardens where it does 
exist, that peculiar treatment is not accorded it which 
would reconcile it to its inland home, consequently, 
the state of health and vigour in which we often find 
it is anything but satisfactory. This is the more 
evident to those who have seen it in a wild condition 
on the broad sandy bents and flats on the southern 
shores of this island, the Isle of Wight, and many 
places on the west coast. 
Its penetrating far-searching roots extend to great 
depths amongst the sand, otherwise they could not 
sustain the plant in a flourishing condition on the 
barren wastes, where it is evidently quite at home and 
happy. The rigid nature of the leaves and their 
glaucous hue have, no doubt, reference to their 
surroundings, and the unavoidable exposure to which 
they are subject on the surface of dry burning sand. 
The spiny nature of the foliage serves as a protection 
against browsing animals, which would be liable to 
destroy them where other vegetation is so scanty. 
Besides the decidedly glaucous leaves, the floral bracts, 
or involucral leaves, assume such a depth of the steel- 
blue colour, so characteristic of this genus, under the 
above-mentioned conditions, that something in the 
same way might be attempted in the cultivation of the 
Sea Holly in inland gardens. 
When grown at all, how frequently do we see a 
small piece huddled away amongst other herbaceous 
plants, enjoying but ordinary treatment, and liable to 
disappear altogether from the roots being placed in 
heavy loam or clay. The effect of this system of dot¬ 
planting is altogether lost in the case of the Sea Holly, 
which, to show its best character, should be grown in a 
bed or mass. In order to favour the glaucous colour¬ 
ation and the peculiar blue tint of the foliage, the 
natural soil should be removed to a depth of from 18 
ins. to 24 ins., and replaced by that of a very sandy 
nature. Cultivators in the neighbourhood of the sea 
would be able to obtain sandy material of the most 
suitable and natural description. Unless in the case of 
low-lying and particularly wet subsoil, no further 
drainage should be required than that afforded by the 
sandy soil introduced. Before they have thoroughly 
established themselves by sending down long roots, the 
plants will require frequent watering in continued dry 
weather. After this has taken place, however, they 
will be beyond the reach of harm, and require no 
special attention.— B. B. 
-- 
RHODODENDRON COUNTESS 
OF HADDING-TON. 
The subject of our illustration was a fine untrained 
specimen which flowered a short time ago in the 
conservatory at Devonhurst, Chiswick, and was 
photographed by Mr. Charles Henwood, Chiswick. 
The Countess of Haddington is a hybrid obtained by 
crossing R. Dalhouske with R. formosum, generally 
known in gardens as R. Gibsoni. The flowers are of 
great size, bell-shaped and somewhat elongated, of a 
delicate pink when they expand, changing to blush- 
white. The leaves are evergreen, oblong, leathery, 
strongly ciliated at the margin, and dotted on both 
surfaces with scales when young, but ultimately smooth 
or nearly so. The plant is grown in a pot, and is 9 ft. 
in height, by 7 ft. through, and produced about 150 
flower heads, carrying in the aggregate about 500 
of its handsome blooms. Mr. Wright, gardener to 
E. H. Watts, Esq., attributes the fine set of bloom to 
the fact that it was retained in the conservatory last 
year, instead of being placed in the open air with 
similar subjects. Already a few of the more forward 
buds are setting for next year’s display. 
-- 
PASSIFLORA CONSTANCE 
ELIOTT. 
The numerous species and varieties of Passiflora 
would be more popular, but for the fact that the flowers 
remain in perfection for so short a time. The only 
good quality which makes up for this shortcoming is, 
that they yield flowers in abundance for a very con¬ 
siderable period of the summer and autumn months, 
after the plants have reached a mature age to fit them 
to bloom freely. The variety under notice is certainly 
an acquisition to the many that are cultivated for 
greenhouse and conservatory climbers. It is described 
as a hardy plant, but the quality of hardiness must be 
tested by the part of the country in which it is planted. 
For instance, here, in north-east Lancashire, the plant 
would not thrive at all outside, whereas it might 
flourish extremely well in the midlands, or South of 
England, and never feel the effects of the variable 
English winters. 
As a greenhouse climber it has proved its good 
qualities, these being freedom of growth and flowering. 
The flowers are produced in great abundance, of a 
pure white colour, and the perfume is delicious. 
This perfume can only be detected at certain times of 
the day, the most noticeable period being about the 
middle of the afternoon, or as soon as the sun begins to 
decline. I have sought for the scent on many occasions 
during the day, but I have never found it except 
