918 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 3, 1887. 
Could not cultivators contrive to cut down one half of 
their plants during the ensuing spring, the other half 
the spring following, and so on alternately ? This 
would even be better than allowing them to run from 
year to year, by simply picking out dead fronds as 
they appear. The foregoing objections put together 
would not, I think, be sufficient reason to prevent one 
adopting the method. 
With regard to watering I will not say much, as 
everyone knows how injurious is dryness at the roots 
to Maidenhair Ferns. Therefore, well-established 
plants must receive liberal supplies of water during 
the warm summer months ; and root-bound subjects 
would derive much benefit from copious supplies of 
liquid manure when growing. 
Respecting potting, I may remark that beginners 
must remember that perfect drainage is essential to the 
successful cultivation of these Ferns ; and that plenty 
of fibrous loam, a quantity of horse-droppings, and 
sharp sand are all that is required in the preparation of 
the compost. Some add a quantity of peat to the soil, 
but this is immaterial; in fact, some object to peat 
being used at all for this species. A. cuneatum is a 
greenhouse subject, and can be wintered in a temper¬ 
ature of from 40° to 50° ; but is often found in the 
stove, with the temperature of which it agrees very 
well. It is also adapted for growing in cases. Shading 
from the direct rays of the sun is necessary in summer. 
—John Peebles, Wexham Park. 
- -- - 
FRUIT SHOW AT WREXHAM. 
The third annual exhibition of fruits, Chrysanthe¬ 
mums, &e., held by the North Wales and Border 
Counties Pomologieal Society, took place at Wrexham 
on November 23rd and 24th, and a better lot of fruit 
and Chrysanthemums has probably never before been 
got together in the principality. The main object of 
the society is to disseminate useful knowledge upon the 
important subject of fruit cultivation, and especially 
in regard to the capabilities of the district with 
respect to soil and climate, and the best varieties to 
plant. Of the value of such a society in any district 
there can be no question whatever, and it is much to 
be regretted that the landowners do not give more 
support to such efforts. The society has a strong 
executive committee, with S. Yorke, Esq., Erddig, as 
president ; T. Chilton, Esq., The Elms, Gresford, as 
vice-president; and Mr. J. Jones, Gresford, as secretary, 
to whose energy and enthusiasm the success which the 
society has achieved is largely due. 
The Apple and Pear classes were well contested, the 
visitors being unanimous in their praise of the high 
quality of the samples that were staged. Of Apples, 
the most successful exhibitors were Mr. Hannigan, 
gardener to R. C. Naylor, Esq., Hooton Hall ; Mr. 
Farquharson, Acton Nurseries; and Mr. Oldfield, 
Chirk Castle Gardens, who staged the best nine dishes 
of dessert varieties in the order named ; and the same 
number of culinary varieties, in which class the awards 
went, as named, to Mr. Farquharson, Mr. Oldfield, 
and Mr. Hannigan. In the single dish classes the first 
prizes were secured as follows :—Worcester Pearmain, 
Mr. B. Piercy ; King of the Pippins, Mr. H. 
Humphreys ; Eibston Pippin, Miss Archdale, Gresford ; 
Cox’s Orange Pippin, Mr. C. W. Townshend; 
Mannington’s Pearmain, Mr. Farquharson ; Claygate 
Pearmain, Mr. Farquharson ; Blenheim Orange, Mr. 
Oldfield ; Malster, Mr. H. Humphreys ; Scarlet Non¬ 
pareil, Mr. B. Piercy ; Stirling Castle, Mr. B. Piercy ; 
Cellini, Mr. W. H. Fletcher ; Ecklinville, Miss 
Balfour; Warner’s King, Mr. Farquharson ; Dume- 
low’s Seedling, Mr. T. 0. Wright ; Wareham Russet, 
Mr. H. Humphreys ; Peasgood’s Nonsuch, Mr. E. 
Smith ; Alfriston, Mr. B. Piercy ; Mere de Menage, 
Mr. Hannigan ; Cobham, Miss Harding ; and Pott’s 
"Seedling, Mr. B. Piercy. 
The best collections of nine dishes of Pears also came 
from Mr. Hannigan, Mr. Farquharson, and Mr. 
Oldfield ; and Mr. W. Weir, gardener to Sir R. A. 
Cunliffe, Acton Park, Wrexham, had the best six 
dishes. The best samples of the sorts specified in the 
single dish classes were shown as follows :—Beurre 
Superfin, Mr. W. H. Fletcher, Gresford; Beurre Hardy, 
Mr. Hannigan ; Louise Bonne of Jersey, Mr. Hannigan; 
Marie Louise, Miss Sykes ; Pitmaston Duchess, Mr. 
Hannigan ; Thompson’s, Mr. Hannigan ; Doyenne du 
Comice, Mr. Hannigan ; Winter Nelis, S. Yorke, Esq.; 
Hacon’s Incomparable, Mr. B. Piercy ; Easter Beurre, 
S. Yorke, Esq. One dish of culinary Pears, Mr. II. 
Humphreys. Grapes were well shown, and there was a 
keen competition in the classes for one and three 
bunches respectively. In the former contest Mr. Weir 
won easily with a magnificent bunch of Alicante ; and 
with three, Mr. Taylor, Grove Road, Wrexham, was 
first, showing good examples of Lady Downe’s, Muscat 
of Alexandria and Alicante ; Mr. Weir second, and Mr. 
Hannigan third. 
The competition between Mr. Oldfield and Mr. Weir, 
in a grand class for ten dishes of vegetables, was very 
close, but, eventually, the judges placed them as named. 
In the Acton Park collection were some Parsnips 38 in. 
long. The Potato classes also brought out a very fine 
lot of samples, the best coming from Mr. Wright, of 
Gresford, and Mr. Weir. With specimen plants of 
Chrysanthemums Mr. Weir carried off all the honours ; 
and also secured a fair share of the awards in the cut- 
bloom contests. These were exceptionally good, and 
notably so the winning stands of twelve blooms, which 
were staged by Mr. Thomas Hughes, Llanfordu Hall, 
Sir. Hannigan and Mr. Weir. Mr. Hughes also had 
the best half-dozen, and the best six Japanese. 
In the miscellaneous class awards were made to 
Messrs. Stracnan & Evans, Wrexham, for a collection 
of Chrysanthemums and other flowering plants; to Mr. 
Bennett, gardener to the Hon. C. H. Winn, Rfig, 
Corwen, for a collection of Apples grown 500 ft. above 
the sea level ; and to Mr. Sanderson, gardener to II. 
D. Pochin, Esq., Bodnant Hall, Eglwysbach, for a 
collection of Apples ; and a good collection of Apples 
was also sent by Messrs. F. & A. Dickson & Sons, 
Chester. _—_ 
WINDOW GARDENING. 
{Concluded from p. 198.) 
Winter Culture. 
Seeing that most of the subjects used for decorative 
purposes in summer are tender, and, consequently, 
unable to bear the rigours of our northern climate, it 
is necessary that our windows be occupied with hardier 
plants during winter. For the matter of that, the 
same plants that serve to keep the windows gay in 
winter may also be employed for the same purpose in 
summer ; but for the sake of variety, and to appear in 
harmony with the season, the culture of summer- 
flowering plants should not be abandoned, while at the 
same time interesting employment and a wider range is 
given for the development and exhibition of individual 
taste by the latter kinds of gardening than the former. 
Furthermore, let us be advocates of progress and im¬ 
provement ; and not like a stereotyped or fossilised 
body—incapable of advancement or improvement on 
the methods of our ancestors. 
Shrubs for Window Decoration. 
The list of hardy evergreen trees or shrubs, flowering 
or otherwise, at our disposal for the winter orna¬ 
mentation of windows is greater than at first thought 
would be imagined. Flowering subjects are certainly 
few, but berried plants tolerably plentiful, and foliage 
plants, both green and variegated, endless. The first 
may be represented by Andromeda floribunda, Erica 
herbacea, Jasminum nudiflorum, Christmas and Lenten 
Roses, and Viburnum tinus, the two first named of 
which flower towards the spring rather than winter ; 
but they are sufficiently important not to be over¬ 
looked. Berried plants are more plentiful, and include 
Aucubas, C'otoneasters, Skimmias, Pernettyas, Tree 
Ivies, Vaccinium vitis-idiea, Gaultheria procumbens, 
and Hollies. Independent of the fruit, all of the 
above may with great propriety be used as pot plants 
for the decoration and enlivenment of the window-sill 
in winter. 
Conifers afford a striking number of really orna¬ 
mental, handsome and easily manageable plants that 
are never out of season, although they are most 
invaluable in winter. The Retinosporas alone furnish 
us with great variety in R. pisifera, R. p. aurea, 
R. plumosa, R. p. aurea, R. p. variegata, R. filifera, 
R. leptoclada, R. squarrosa, R. decussata, R. ericoides, 
R. filicifolia, R. obtusa, R. o. aurea, R. o. pygmrea, 
and others. The most of these are slow-growing 
subjects, that can be grown in pots for many years 
before they grow to an unmanageable size. Then 
there are Junipers in variety, including Juniperus 
chinensis, J. c. aurea, J. japonica, J. j. aurea, and 
others. Cupressus Lawsoniana furnishes a marvellous 
variety differing in habit—drooping, upright or hori¬ 
zontal, pigmy or dwarf forms, and green, silvery, 
glaucous, golden or variegated kinds. C. macrocarpa, 
C. Nutkiensis, C. thuyoides, C. sempervirens, together 
with Thuja orientalis, T. o. aurea, T. o. elegantissima, 
T. Standishii, T. Vervaneana, andThujopsis dolobrata, 
add to, but are by no means exhaustive of the list. 
For town gardening and window culture especially 
the various forms of Euonymus japonicus, E. radicans, 
E. microphyllus, golden and silver variegated forms of 
Buxus sempervirens, as well as the numerous green 
forms, B. balearica, Osmanthus ilicifolius aquifolius, 
Cassinia fulvida, Olearia Haastia, Prunus lusitanicus, 
Pteris japonica, Berberis aquifolium, B. V'alliehiana, 
B. Darwinii, and a host of others, present themselves 
as suitable and invaluable subjects for the purpose. 
The common or Norway Spruce, well known as a 
Christmas tree, need not be overlooked any more than 
the many useful and beautiful species and varieties of 
Picea and Abies. 
Spring Culture. 
Winter stuff need not be dispensed with till the more 
tender subjects can take their place in summer, hut 
there is a large number of flowering plants that may 
be called into requisition at a time when such are 
highly appreciated, and must not be overlooked. I 
refer to numerous bulbous and tuberous-rooted plants 
as well as others capable of producing a display hardly 
inferior in brilliancy, and certainly as enviable as the 
gaudy occupants of the windows in summer. The 
drooping flowers of the Snowdrop, and the golden 
yellow cups of the Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) 
are followed by Crocuses in ail the hues of the rainbow; 
Iris reticulata, and its varieties ; Hyacinths, Tulips, 
and Narcissus in endless variety of form and colour. 
Primroses, Cowslips, Polyanthuses, and Auriculas offer 
according to their kind temptations that cannot be 
resisted even by the most indifferent; while Wall¬ 
flowers, Brompton Stocks, Arabis, Aubrietias, Forget- 
me-nots, and Daisies, the occupants of the beds and 
borders at the awakening season of the year, not only 
press themselves upon our attention, but urge that we 
might utilise them to more and better purpose in the 
windows of our crowded thoroughfares. 
Indoor Culture. 
As far as flowering plants are concerned, when indoor 
cultivation in windows is attempted, the plants are 
confined to either pots, pans, or baskets. It would be 
inadvisable generally to attempt the cultivation of 
plants in boxes under the conditions mentioned, mainly 
from the difficulty in the matter of light; and secondly 
from the inconvenience that would arise in changing 
the position of the plant for various reasons, and on 
account of varying circumstances. Moreover, pots or 
pans may simply occupy the basement of the window, 
or arranged on ornamental wire stands, tables, &c., in 
as close proximity to the glass as possible, in order to 
secure for them a maximum of light. Great care must 
be taken to frequently change the position of the 
specimens during the whole period of growth, if they 
are desired to assume a regular and not one-sided 
shape. 
Training in many cases will also have to be adopted, 
where such is requisite, to meet the circumstances of 
the case; but in no way have recourse to such an 
operation where it can be avoided ; and the plants 
should be grown as much ks possible to their natural 
shape and Habit. This, of course, can be accomplished 
or best understood by a little experience and careful 
observation. 
The various forms of Fuchsias, Pelargoniums—single, 
double, cut - leaved and scented — and the Musk 
(Mimnlus moschatus), are the commonest plants we 
meet with in windows ; sometimes, though more rarely, 
the Monthly Rose. The former are, moreover, to be 
considered the most important, and their cultivation 
should receive all due consideration and encourage¬ 
ment. Besides these there are, moreover, a whole host 
of subjects that can be, and are, grown to considerable 
perfection. Foremost among these may be mentioned 
Begonia Evansiaua, B. parviflora, B. AVeltonieusis, 
Hydrangea hortensis, Cuphea cyanea, C. iguea, 
Petunias, Myrtles, Calceolarias, the Scarborough Lily 
(Yallota purpurea), the nettle-leaved Coleus, or more 
properly, Pleetranthus fruticosus, Heliotropes, Nierem- 
bergia gracilis, Chinese Primroses, Cacti, Cotyledons, 
Gasterias, Aloes, Agaves, Ornithogalum longibrae- 
teatum or the Onion Plant, Chlorophytum elatum 
variegatum, the Belladonna Lily (Amaryllis Bella¬ 
donna), and the Candle Plant (Ivleinia articulatum). 
In the spring-time these may be supplemented by 
various bulbs, such as Hyacinths, Tulips, Narcissi, 
Snowdrops, Crocuses, Scilla bifolia, S. siberica, and 
others—Chionodoxa Luciliie, Iris reticulata, &c. 
Evergreen and ornamental-foliaged plants may be 
made a conspicuous feature in window gardening, and 
for this purpose they are equally useful and more 
appreciated for decorative effect in winter than in 
summer. In the first rank stands Ficus elastica, 
Cordyline australis, some of the hardier green-leaved 
Dracrenas, Aspidistra lurida, A. 1. variegata, Myrtles, 
Agaves, Aloes, Gasterias, Cotyledons (better known as 
Echeverias), and various Ferns, such as Pteris serrulata, 
P. s. cristata, P. s. compacta, P. cretica albo-lineata, 
P. tremula, Pteris or Platyloma falcata, Aspidium 
falcatum, A. aculeatum angulare and some of its 
numerous forms, Scolopendrium vulgare crispum and 
other forms, Asplenium bulbiferum minus, A. marinum, 
A. Adiantum-nigrum, Nephrodium Filix-mas cristata, 
and various other hardy or half-hardy Ferns. 
