August 20, 1887. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
807 
be little question that G. triacanthos is the largest tree 
of the genus yet in cultivation, and, at the same time, 
has the most handsome foliage. The earliest-developed 
leaves of the season, and all those produced on the 
short lateral branches, are simply pinnate, and these, 
as far as number is concerned, are the most predominant 
in old trees ; but later on, especially when the tree is 
growing vigorously, large and very elegant bipinnate 
leaves are developed on branches having long internodes. 
As already stated, the leaflets of the Devonhurst. 
specimen are broader and shorter than in that which 
Loudon has taken as the type. It may be a garden 
production, and this is also supported by the fact that 
the flowers, which contain both stamens and ovaries, are 
frequently in a monstrous condition. There should be 
only one pod to a flower, in accordance with the 
universal character of the Pea family ; but in this case 
there are often two that attain considerable size, 
together with a number of smaller ones, forming a sub- 
globular mass, enclosed or grasped by the bases of these 
latter. Pods are produced by this tree 9 ins. or more 
in length, and sometimes upwards of 1^ ins. in breadth. 
These are retained by the tree after the leaves have 
fallen, and from their flattened character and brownish 
red colour, they present a very singular appearance. 
The other two trees are forms of G. sinensis, the 
smaller one having perfect flowers producing pods in 
autumn, while the other tree bears male flowers only. 
Neither do they exactly agree in other respects, as the 
leaflets in the male tree are more oblong, rather 
narrower, and less decidedly crenate at the margin, 
while its flowers are smaller, and much more distinctly 
and sweetly scented. In both cases, however, the 
flowers are quite green, and indistinguishable from 
the leaves at a short distance. These male flowers, 
however, no doubt serve an excellent purpose in the 
economy of nature, and, when expanded, form a 
great source of attraction for bees, which are doubtless 
attracted by the pleasant odour. The fruit-bearing 
tree is the smallest of the group, and the most spiny. 
The pods of this species are much smaller, shorter and 
more attenuated than those of G. triacanthos. G. 
sinensis had not fruited in this country up to the time 
that Loudon wrote his Trees and Shnibs of Great 
Britain. 
The singular branching spines of the Gleditschias 
are no less a feature of exceeding interest than the 
beautiful and polymorphic leaves themselves. This is 
to be accounted for in various ways. In the first 
place, they are metamorphosed branches, and, as a 
rule, originate at some little distance above the leaf, 
not in its axil according to the ordinary rule. Secondly, 
they are often produced in clusters from the old and 
naked trunk, when they generally attain a considerable 
size and become much branched, giving the tree a very 
defensive or offensive aspect. Certainly from their 
size and strength they would be very formidable 
weapons for cattle or similar animals to encounter. 
All the three trees of the group are furnished with 
these large spines on the trunk ; but the smaller 
specimen of G. sinensis, which is the fruit-bearing 
form, is by far the most spiny. G. ferox and G. horrida 
would seem to be names for unusually well-armed forms 
of G. sinensis. There are spineless or almost spineless 
forms of both G. triacanthos and G. sinensis in cultiva¬ 
tion, and which are frequently selected from beds of 
seedlings.— J. F. 
-- 
Hardening ffoiES from 
§ COTLAND. 
♦ 
Apples.— The earliness and general excellence of 
Apples in northern gardens and orchards this season 
has rarely been equalled, and some kinds are on a par 
with many of the same sorts which are grown in the 
most southern districts ; and we doubt not but that the 
late kinds will assume the bright colouring which is 
so desirable in dessert Apples. We have found great 
benefit this season from Red Astrachan, which has 
been the means of forming a connecting link to the 
Strawberry crop. The deep crimson shade of colour 
that is next to the sun and yellowish white towards 
the stalk gives the fruit a very attractive appearance ; 
the perfume, too, enhance its value. 
In many gardens that we have visited, we found the 
walls indifferently clothed with fruit trees—and often 
with such as do not give a return for the labour 
expended upon them—which might be made to yield 
fine crops of handsome Apples, and such as would 
shut out the American consignments altogether. It 
has been written, by an extensive grower of fruits in 
orchard-houses, that “one does not know what really 
good Apples are who have not eaten them from under 
glass in this country.” It has not fallen to our lot 
to cultivate them under glass, and only of late years 
on walls, and these have not been in such positions as 
to ensure the full sun (being north-west) ; but to 
compare the fruit grown on odd wall spaces with 
ordinary crops on standards and cordons is remarkably 
striking. Golden Pippin is really yellow, so is Kerry 
Pippin, and Margils (if allowed to hang long enough) 
are of a bright yellow shade, crisp, and flavour superior 
to any American Apple we have ever tasted. This 
kind is simply a small Ribston, but more productive, 
and the tree is much less liable to become cankered. 
As a standard or bush fruit, we do not know a more 
useful kind in southern gardens. The late Mr. Thomas 
Osborn pointed out a tree to us in his private grounds 
which was loaded, and that gentleman said he could 
not remember any season that it was otherwise. We 
noticed a number of old trees of various kinds, which 
had their bottom roots entirely cut away because of 
the fruit cracking and the tree cankering, in fine 
foliage and heavily cropped with sound fruit. The 
kinds of Apples that are extra loaded are Lord Suffield, 
Stirling Castle, Cellini, King of Pippins, and Seaton 
House. —Caledonian. 
Vegetable Notes. —While vegetables are-very 
abundant, and most kinds excellent in northern gardens, 
it will be well not to neglect those which are expected 
to give good supplies during the autumn and winter 
seasons. We have already been reminded of late, on 
more nights than one, that frost may be expected to 
cripple, if not destroy, some useful crops. French 
Beans are among the first to suffer, and if protection at 
night can be given them, the plants now bearing freely, 
and those about to enter that state, might be kept on 
for a number of weeks to come. Frames and glass- 
lights, plant-protectors, hand-lights, hoops and mats, 
or frigi-domo placed over a framework of stakes, are 
some of the means in favour for protecting tender 
plants. Yegetable Marrows, Tomatos on walls, &c., 
are among the kinds of useful esculents which are 
exposed to injury. The usual successions of Lettuce, 
Cabbages, Spinach, Turnips, Endive, young Carrots, 
Radishes, and small salads claim attention now. We 
never rest contented with one or two successive crops 
of these, and every sheltered space should be filled with 
any kinds that are in much request. If Spinach is not 
equal to the demand, the thinnings may be planted on 
finely-prepared soil. This vegetable is never over- 
plentiful during severe winters, thus requiring all the 
more attention to establish it in favourable quarters. 
Allowing such crops to come up thickly, and not 
properly thinned in time, is courting failure, as they 
are never sturdy and of such substance as to withstand 
damp and severe frost. We notice aphis attacking 
many of the Brassica kinds of vegetables. Dustings of 
lime and soot may act as a preventive. Young 
Coleworts, newly planted, are very liable to injury ; 
but Brussels Sprouts are generally the most affected. 
We see it, to some extent, on our four successions of 
these, which are extra strong and early. The first 
dish was gathered on August 11th, a month before we 
expected them. The present is a favourable time to 
make a sowing of these in northern gardens, where 
they cannot be brought forward under glass for very 
early supplies. Cauliflowers, of sorts, and curled Kale 
may also be sown ; but the latter is generally too coarse 
when sown before spring, which is especially the case 
this season.— Caledonian. 
Viola, Countess of Kintore. —Being the raiser 
of the above beautiful variety, I was very much 
interested in your correspondent’s remarks regarding 
its drought-resisting properties, which I can fully bear 
out in my own experience. Having two rows of it, 
each over 200 ft. long, and fully exposed to the sun, 
not a plant has died this season, but it has been one 
continuous mass of bloom all the summer; whilst 
other varieties, growing side by side with it, have 
suffered more or less. It is a variety that seems to 
suit itself to any climate, for in the far north of 
Scotland, some 200 miles from Edinburgh, I saw it last 
week blooming most profusely. —John Downie. 
The Amateurs’ Garden. 
Vinf.s Outdoors. —Not everyone who has the desire 
possesses the means of growing Grapes under glass ; 
but thousands who cannot do so can secure a crop 
outdoors provided they have at command a wall with a 
sunny aspect against which to train the Vines. This 
is not the season for planting or making fresh alterations; 
but the fact can be borne in mind, when that time 
arrives, that Grape-growing can be carried on to a much 
greater extent in England than it is at present by 
amateurs, and that it forms a pleasant outdoor 
recreation even in the hottest weather. Add to this 
the advantages to be derived from a supply of useful 
and wholesome fruit, at a cost which may be set down 
as almost nil to those who can command a little spare 
time, either in the morning or at night after the day’3 
labour is over. 
Those who do possess Vines in the open air will see 
that the fruit is now rapidly swelling, and may receive 
a little thinning where the berries have set very thickly. 
This will cause them to become larger than they would 
otherwise be, not only ensuring better quality, but 
preventing damage to the berries by squeezing later on. 
It is usual to see Vines on open walls, at this season of 
the year, crowded with rampant-growing shoots that 
not only rob the bunches of the nutriment which serves 
to swell the berries, but also shades them, greatly to 
the disadvantage of the ripening process, especially as 
the season advances and the sun becomes less powerful. 
Shading does not materially affect the swelling of the 
fruit directly, but does so indirectly by robbing it of 
ill-directed nourishment that goes to the production of 
a labyrinth of useless wood, which must be cut away 
from all badly-managed Vines at the winter pruning. 
Another matter requiring attention, at this period of 
growth especially, is to see that the Vines do not suffer 
from want of a copious supply of water at the roots. 
If an attack of mildew should make its appearance, 
syringe the foliage, and apply a dusting of flowers of 
sulphur immediately the disease is detected, whereby 
its ravages will be promptly checked. 
From the amount of sunshine, this season is par¬ 
ticularly favourable to the ripening of outdoor Grapes ; 
but more attention should be given to the cultivation 
of varieties that give most satisfaction in any season, 
favourable or otherwise, with which we may be visited. 
If this were done, Grape-growing in the open air in 
England would receive a fresh impetus, such as it has 
not enjoyed for many years past. The cheapening of 
glass, and the superior quality, appearance and more 
certainty of success engendered thereby, has put outdoor 
cultivation greatly in the background ; but there is no 
reason why this state of matters should not be greatly 
improved, and that through the exertions of amateurs 
who may grow their own Grapes, ensuring a supply for 
a month or two every year. Royal Muscadine, a white 
Sweetwater Grape, is a very early variety, and has 
been proved to be the best suited for our climate, 
ripening very satisfactorily. Black Hamburgh and 
Black Prince will also ripen tolerably well in favourable 
positions, even when visited by less propitious seasons 
than the present one — a season which augurs well 
to continue. 
Vines Under Glass. —Those who are fortunate 
enough to possess a greenhouse or similar glass 
structure, will still have to exercise close attention to 
the duties required by the objects of their care or 
pastime. The greatest evil in Grape-growing by 
amateurs is the attempt to do too much, or, in other 
words, crowd too much in a small space. Two, three 
or more Vines are allowed to struggle for an existence 
in a space that ought to be monopolised by one plant 
only. The Vine naturally is a very rampant and 
vigorous grower, and, to give the greatest satisfaction, 
must be allowed plenty of space to develope, unless 
managed by experienced cultivators. If the fact is 
once recognised that one specimen will occupy a large 
space profitably, we should hear less of Vines failing 
to fruit in small houses. All useless and fruitless 
shoots should be rigidly cut away, unless there is ample 
space to lay them in, so as to allow full exposure of 
the foliage to the sun. Fruit-bearing branches may 
be pruned beyond the first or second leaf from the 
bunch. If pruning, however, has hitherto been 
neglected, and the Vines are now a mass of wood, 
great care should be exercised not to denude them too 
