October 8, 1887. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
85 
are ready for potting off. They are now put in rather 
thickly round the edges of pots, and allowed to make 
some further growth before being finally planted out. 
Potting them off in this manner enables them to be 
separated conveniently, and planted out with a fair 
ball of soil ; while, at the same time, less labour is 
expended in the operation, and less valuable space is 
occupied, than if each plant were planted separately in 
smaller pots. All the commoner and useful or orna¬ 
mental kinds were represented, including Thujas, 
Cupressus, Juniperus, and Retinosporas. There was a 
quantity of Retinospora squarrosa Veitchii, a variety 
characterised by larger leaves and a paler green colour. 
They make useful subjects for potting up as decorative 
stuff or for winter bedding. In connection with this 
class of plants, it is interesting to note that Cryptomeria 
elegans is hardier in Scotland than C. japonica, while 
the reverse seems to hold good in England. 
Under the same cool treatment as the above were a 
variety of subjects, each useful in its way. Hollies, 
which are rather popular in Scotland, are struck from 
cuttings in considerable quantity. When kept in a 
cool house, they require two years to form roots ; but 
if placed in heat, they accomplish this in half the time. 
Ribes pumila aurea is a useful little shrub that may be 
grown as an edging. The leaves are of a deep golden 
yellow till midsummer, resembling Golden Feather ; 
but after that time they assume a greenish hue. 
R. pumilum is evidently a garden 
name for R. alpin um, of which the 
plant in question is doubtl ess the 
variety R. a. aureum, a com¬ 
paratively new plant, with yellow 
flowers as well as foliage. Being 
a native, it is quite hardy, without 
thorns, and may be used with 
great advantage as a rockery plant. 
The typical form makes a dense 
leafy bush, from 1 ft. to 3 ft. in 
height, and, judging from appear¬ 
ances, the yellow variety is even 
less robust, and if required as an 
edging could be kept in a small 
state by pruning. Yitis striata, 
widely disseminated and catalogued 
as Ampelopsis sempervirens, 
although a climber, is by no means 
so rampant or vigorous as the 
popular and well-known V. quin- 
quefolia (Ampelopsis hederacea), 
or V. (Ampelopsis) Veitchii, and 
can, therefore, be grown in the 
conservatory or in pots. In the 
south, however, it is hardy and 
does not require this treatment. 
It is a native of South Brazil and 
Uruguay, from whence it was in¬ 
troduced in 1881. The leaves are 
small, leathery, digitately five- 
leafleted, and evergreen. Should 
it prove hardy in Scotland, it would 
be a valuable subject for covering 
walls by way of introducing variety 
amongst the other species and all 
plants in general. A considerable quantity of Ivy in 
twenty different varieties are grown, and seem to be 
even more popular in Scotland than in the south. 
The variegated and fine-leaved sorts receive most 
attention. The Parsley Fern finds a home here ; 
but, although it may be increased faster indoors, it 
seems happier in the open air. 
Florists’ flowers were very gay in the open air, and 
although late in the season for southern growers, the 
old Clove, Pride of Penshurst, and other Carnations, 
were in full bloom. Picotee Red Braes was as fine as 
in July in the south. A large quantity of seedling 
Pentstemons, although unnamed, were all good and 
worthy of cultivation, evincing a good strain. 
Antirrhinums are also cared for and well grown. The 
leading show and Pompon Dahlias were gay, and 
noticeable here, as elsewhere in Scotland, for their 
dwarf habit. The Chrysanthemum fever is taking 
effect here as well as in the south, and large quantities 
are grown to meet the demand—low, sturdy, bushy 
stuff, well calculated to produce a large quantity of 
bloom. A smaller quantity were grown to a few or 
single stems, which were showing large healthy buds. 
La Yierge, described as a semi-Japanese and one of 
the early autumn varieties, is considered the best white 
for cutting purposes. The plants were close and bushy, 
well furnished with foliage and about 18 ins. high. 
When disbudded, the flower-heads attain a diameter of 
6 ins. A sport from Alex. Dufour, named Roi de Precoce, 
is a deep crimson, differing from the parent only in a 
shade of colour. The specimens were vigorous, but 
only about 18 ins. to 24 ins. high. Of the popular 
variety, Elaine, there were 400 plants, of Blonde Beauty 
300, of Lady Selborne 300, James Salter 300, and of 
White Globe, 500. The latter is a pure white, but late 
variety. Blonde Beauty is pinkish white when grown 
out-of-doors, but when flowered under glass becomes 
pure white. A free-flowering dark reddish bronze is a 
sort named Margot. When not disbudded, the Golden 
Queen of England, a very useful sort, has flat flower 
heads. Other good and free-flowering kinds kept in 
stock, and grown inconsiderable quantities, are Fleur de 
Marie, a white self large anemone variety; Julie 
Lagravere, dark crimson-red, reflexed ; Peter the Great, 
lemon-yellow, incurved, Japanese, and late ; Boule de 
Neige, pure white, reflexed, late, and flowered here the 
last time in February ; Sceur Melanie, a pure white 
hybrid Pompon that flowered last year in October and 
November. Chevalier Domage, is a brilliant golden 
yellow reflexed variety ; Cullingfordi is a free-flowering 
crimson-scarlet, reflexed kind, the reverse side of the 
under florets of which are golden yellow. A beautiful 
Japanese variety is Frizou, with lemon-yellow, long 
twisted florets ; Jardin des Plantes is another well- 
known golden yellow of the incurved class ; Moonlight 
is comparatively new, Japanese, large, pure white with 
reflexed’petals. Edouard Audiguier, a robust and strong 
growing variety, is said to be one of the finest. The 
above are some of the most prominent and best of the 
varieties grown, and by no means exhaust the list ; and 
the stock, we must confess, was in a healthy vigorous 
condition. , - , -j- c ,_ 
GRAHAM’S ROYAL JUBILEE 
APPLE. 
At the last meeting of the Fruit Committee, Messrs. 
G. Bunyard & Co., of Maidstone, exhibited samples of 
an Apple under the above name, which promises to 
take a leading position as a market variety. The fruit, 
of which the accompanying is an illustration (natural 
size), was gathered from a standard tree under ordinary 
culture, which was raised from a pip sown twenty-five 
years ago at Hounslow. It is said that the tree has 
never failed to carry a good crop, and is this year again 
profusely laden. The stock has been acquired by the 
Messrs. Bunyard, who have every confidence that it 
will prove of great value to growers for market, and 
become a leading sort to follow after the early soft 
kinds, its conical shape, colour and heavy weight being 
characteristics which the market buyers most prefer. 
It has, indeed, we believe, paid the grower better than 
any other kind. 
It appears to us to be the result of a cross betweem 
Mank’s Codlin and, possibly, the Dutch Codlin. The 
growth is erect and rigid, and more free than the 
Mank’s, so that its large fruit does not blow down so 
readily as some other sorts; season, September to 
November. There is no doubt but that under skilful 
garden cultivation enormous fruits will be produced. 
We understand that the Messrs. Bunyard have also 
acquired the stock of a grand large violet market Plum, 
which is likewise to be called the “Royal Jubilee,” 
and of which we shall doubtless hear more by-and-bye. 
Both are to be sent out in November, 1888. 
-- 
BIRDS AND THEIR ENEMIES. 
At the close of one of those very warm sunny days, 
of which we had so many a few weeks ago, seeking a 
quiet corner outdoors to lay down for a little time, I 
came upon a secluded spot in the corner of a plantation 
where some birds had already assembled for their 
night’s repose, and were having a sort of confidential 
chat among themselves. Listening attentively, I 
gathered that they, like the lords of creation, were 
very much put about by the long-continued drought ; 
and being unconscious of my presence they opened 
their minds pretty freely respecting the sayings and 
doings of the said lords. The first utterances that 
caught my ear came from the blackbird, who said 
“ Well neighbours, all things considered, I must say I 
think it very hard that after spending the winter 
months in killing what I know those wingless monsters 
are very glad to get rid of, and n 
very cold weather, too, remember 
do what I will now, there is scarcely 
enough to be found to keep body 
and soul together. I find that when 
my young ones are large enough to 
get about and help themselves to a 
bit of fruit, which is all they can get 
this dry weather, the monsters do all 
they can to keep them from it, and 
woe betide them if man catches 
them. I find their poor dead bodies 
hung up and lying about. I know 
they like our song, because they get 
hold of some unfortunates among us, 
and imprison us that we may sing 
to them, the mean selfish creatures. 
I call them a paltry set of humbugs.” 
“Hear, hear,” said the thrush, 
who thought it time to have his say. 
“I cannot think why they are so 
stingy over a bit of fruit, and cannot 
see why they do not leave it all for 
us, as they have plenty else to eat, 
and need not make so much fuss 
about it. They make a great noise, 
too, about the harm the snails do 
them. Now you know I am very 
fond of snails, and if man were only 
a little more considerate, I could 
easily manage to keep the snails 
down. But they are so one-sided. 
Here we have very snug and safe 
quarters ; for they never shoot us, 
and it is very kind of them, though 
I think we pay them well for their 
considerateness. I get all the snails I can find, but there 
are not many, because I feel pretty safe when hunting 
for them. I know places, however, where there are lots, 
but I must be careful when I go to them, or bang will 
go the gun, and no more snails for me. Ah ! friends, 
I know this too well, having lost some of my dear 
ones. If man wants all the fruit for himself, he 
can fasten us out if he is careful. But sometimes he 
puts up nets with pieces left out so that we can easily 
get in, and then he says how cunning we are. Ha, 
Ha ! what stupids !” 
“Well done !” said the chaffinch, “ I don’t care for 
the fruit you seem so fond of, and don’t see why man 
should be so down on me. He keeps scratching the 
ground about and sowing seeds ; well, if I want the 
stuff, why should I not help myself ? There they are, 
hoeing and weeding for everlasting ! They won’t give 
a fellow a chance of getting his living honourably and 
honestly, and yet they call us thieves for taking a few 
seeds to rear our families with ; it’s a dastardly shame ! 
They are fond enough of getting as many as they can 
of us to take to those horrid places where they keep the 
sunlight out, and make a great smoke that blackens 
the air, and which, I think, is bad enough for them ; 
but to send any of us there, why they ought to be 
ashamed of doing such a thing !” 
The greenfinch, being much interested in seeds, 
asked leave to say a few words, so Mr. Chinck-chinck 
