344 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
January 28, 1888. 
rapidly. Heaths, Cyclamens, Chinese Primroses and 
such things will last for a time ; but the former are 
very adverse to -window culture, and the latter -will last 
according to the temperature of the house from whence 
they came. The Chinese Primroses are, perhaps, the 
most durable as far as the plants are concerned, and 
will even flower again if properly treated.— Filix. 
-- 
RIPENING OF PEARS. 
I have had a somewhat similar experience to 
“ N. H. P.” (p. 280) as regards the earlier ripening of 
Pears this season, which has been general in this 
locality. The crop was much below the average, but 
quality more than compensated for quantity in my 
case. This is the first season that Beurre d’Amanlis 
has failed since I have been here ; but I did not note 
how long it lasted. Of Williams’ Bon Chretien we had 
not a single fruit this year. We do not grow Souvenir 
du Congres, the variety mentioned by your corre¬ 
spondent. I have not noted particular varieties, but 
from memory I know they were earlier this season. 
My employers have been away, and fruits have been 
sent to them each season. From notes taken I find 
that Durondeau was fully three weeks earlier, Doyenne 
du Cornice a fortnight, and Glou Morgeau was finished 
more than a month earlier. Last season they kept 
until January 15th, and this season I sent the last of 
them in on December 12th, which was quite as long as 
they would keep. This is the first time I have had 
this variety clean, and without spots or cracking, 
which I attribute to the fine autumn we had. 
Beurre Diel and Beurre de Capiaumont both went 
rotten in the centre, whilst the outside was firm and 
still unripe ; excepting some from standards, neither of 
these varieties have been really good since the season 
of 1883 here. From a west wall Winter Nelis was 
three weeks earlier ; and of that best of late Pears, 
Josephine de Malines, I sent the last dish in on 
December 30th, and my employer told me afterwards 
that for the last three or four days an occasional one 
was bad in the centre. Last season I may say that it 
was the only good one I had after the middle of 
November, and lasted until February 25th. Ne Plus 
Meuris, which has never ripened before, is now in good 
condition, as is also Bergamotte d’Esperen ; Nouvelle 
Fulvie and Easter Beurre I have finished this week. 
Chaumontel were all used up two or three days ago, 
but appeared as if they would have lasted longer. 
This variety is very uncertain with me ; this is the only 
time since the year 1883 that it has been good. Most 
of the varieties referred to are grown on walls. 
Triomphe de Jodoigne was good on a wall, but has not 
been fit for dessert, excepting one season, namely, that 
of 1884. We use it for stewing, and as “N. H. P.” 
says, “They are like Turnips this year.” Why some 
varieties have succeeded so much better this season 
than either I have mentioned, and others have not 
come up to that standard of perfection desirable, is 
what I should much like to know'. To all appearance 
the past season was the best we have had for some time 
as far as weather was concerned.— E. Dumper, Limerick. 
-- 
NOTES ON APPLES. 
It may interest some of the readers of The Gardening 
World to hear how the Apple crop of last season 
succeeded in this part of the British Islands. It is 
generally conceded that the Apple thrives particularly 
well in this locality, and I can endorse that statement. 
I have frequently heard it remarked that “Wherever 
the Oak thrives, so will the Apple. ” Here we have 
some noble specimens of Oak, Beech, Elm and Ash in 
the park and grounds, therefore it is no wonder that 
the Apple thrives so well. 
Among the best-cropping Apples during the past 
season, that first-rate culinary Apple, Mere de Menage, 
must have the premier position ; both in size and 
quality this kind comes to the front, and should be in 
every collection ; it is also a first-class Apple for keeping, 
ours being as firm now as when freshly gathered from 
the trees. The second place must be given to Hambledon 
Deux Ans, a striped culinary Apple of good size, and 
first-class for kitchen use ; this kind was very abundant. 
Golden Noble, too, was very abundant, and is an 
excellent kind for kitchen use ; I have just finished 
it. Although generally keeping till February, this kind 
seems to have required using before as decay made its 
appearance. Another good cropping kind is Brabant 
Bellefleur, it is an excellent keeper and of good quality 
for culinary purposes. 
There is one kind here which I am particularly 
struck with, and I do not remember ever seeing it 
previously in collections, namely, Landsberger Reinette, 
which has been an excellent crop. When ripe it 
becomes of a deep yellow colour, tinged with red where 
exposed to the sun ; it is useful both for kitchen and 
table, the latter especially so in my opinion. Tom 
Putt produced an excellent crop, and most of the fruit 
was highly coloured, no doubt owing to the fine 
weather we had. Devonshire Quarrenden is a good 
bearer, and a pretty dessert kind ; it is a bright red 
and looks charming on the table. Golden Reinette bore 
a tremendous crop, and consequently the fruit was not 
so large as usual ; this, too, is a pretty fruit for table. 
A good cropper is Gascoigne’s Seedling, fine for table, 
of excellent flavour, and lasting a long time in good 
condition. Lane’s Prince Albert was a fair crop, and 
fully bears out the high encomiums passed upon it when 
first introduced. 
The above-mentioned have all borne good crops this 
last season, and the following kinds have produced 
fair crops, namely, Yorkshire Beauty, Lord Suffield, 
Alexander, Ribston Pippin, Fearn’s Pippin, Summer 
Thorle, and New Idawthornden. Other kinds have not 
been so productive ; but a few nice fruits have been 
secured from most of them, the result being a well- 
stocked fruit-room, which means a good supply for 
family wants—a cause of general satisfaction. 
There is a grand prospect for next year, if we may 
form an estimate from the quantity of thick-set buds 
upon the trees. The hot dry weather of last summer 
thoroughly ripened the wood, and should a favourable 
spring be forthcoming, we shall have an abundance of 
fruit. As Apples thrive so well in this county, it is to 
be hoped that farmers and others may utilise these 
natural advantages, thus securing a good supply of 
wholesome fruit ; and if a ready sale were had for it, 
and railway companies would grant cheaper facilities 
for its conveyance, it would, no doubt, stimulate 
growers to plant more largely. Many complaints are 
made that it does not pay to grow fruit. This, I think, 
is due in a great measure to the fact that a direct sale 
is not made ; hence the “ middleman ” receives the 
greater profit. I may be allowed to suggest that a 
deputation of fruit growers and market gardeners wait 
upon the railway companies to induce them to grant 
the boon, which I may term the want of the age. — 
J. S. T., Montgomeryshire. 
-->Xo- 
CAMELLIAS OUT OF DOORS. 
The writer of the paper on the Camellia, published 
last week, states, that although a fairly hardy plant, 
yet it cannot be grown out of doors with any degree of 
success. That is, doubtless, the general opinion of the 
Camellia held in the north where the climate is too 
cold, on the average, to ripen the spring growths 
sufficiently well to make them hardy. I think, how¬ 
ever, I could show Mr. Hicks very fine Camellia plants 
which have been growing in the open-air for many 
years, without any kind of protection during winter, 
and which not only ripen their wood, but bloom 
wonderfully in the spring. But then these plants are 
found in the south, where they exhibit more vigour 
and robust health than is usually seen in pot plants 
under glass. Specially are Camellias to be seen in 
grand form, out of doors, at Glen Eyre, Southampton, 
where they thrive most luxuriantly and bloom superbly. 
The kinds are chiefly old sorts, because often planted 
out to make way for newer ones ; but the wisest plan 
is to bring on young ones as hardy as possible, and 
plant them out in the month of April, when some 
three or four years worked. 
The Glen Eyre soil is of a dark peaty nature, and to 
that is added, when Camellias are planted, some old 
spent hot-bed manure. For the first few years growth 
is slow, as roots are not made rapidly ; later, however, 
the plants make rapid growth. One specimen of the 
old double striped, some ten years since, was fully 16 
ft. through, and must since then have wondrously 
developed in size. Some are planted in beds the same 
as Rhododendrons, some on walls, and others singly in 
shrubberies. Ordinarily, almost cartloads of flowers 
may be cut during the season. This is no single case, 
as there are many similar ones in the south and west ; 
but their existence has very largely depended upon the 
courage of the planters, who have not been afraid to 
trust Camellias to the tender mercies of our winters. 
All native Japanese plants are not hardy with us, 
much depending upon which portion of that remarkable 
country they are indigenous to ; but still, so many 
have proved hardy with us that it seems difficult to 
believe the Camellia may net be as capable of enduring 
hard weather here as the Aucuba or other Japanese 
shrubs. Had not the Camellia been a flowering plant, 
we should not have given it house room, but it would 
have taken its place with the Laurel as a pleasing ever¬ 
green shrub. We house the Camellia because of its 
flowers, and hence we have got to believe that it is 
really a tender or greenhouse subject. I would not 
advise planting it out as an ordinary hardy shrub 
higher than the midlands, and preferentially in the 
south and west only. Those who have suitable soil 
and surroundings, and some natural shelter, will, how¬ 
ever, hardly have cause to regret their boldness in 
placing out a few plants experimentally ; and may, in 
time, find in their Camellias an ample reward, especially 
in an abundance of bloom.— A. D. 
-~>X<-- 
FERNS AND FERN BASKETS. 
Ferns as decorative plants, it will be generally agreed, 
stand unrivalled. In many ways their usefulness may 
be considered to claim this advantage over all other 
plants. They flower not, but that is a feature which is 
entirely eclipsed by their graceful, chaste, and un¬ 
assuming appearance, which is enough to make ample 
reparation for the seeming defect, and completely out¬ 
shines the transient grandness of a flower. 
Our most graceful Palms have scarcely an approximate 
right to be compared to a Maidenhair Fern. Beautiful 
and useful as they undoubtedly are, they carry an air of 
stiffness with them uncongenial to the fern species. 
On the table, in the drawing-room, in the hall, and in 
the hanging basket the fern never fails to invoke the 
admiration of whosoever sees it. This is neither 
wonderful nor extraordinary when not only the culti¬ 
vated greet its presence, but it also claims the attention 
and approbation of the hapless few who fail to see 
beauty in any plant. 
When placed in baskets, and the latter covered with 
moss, it is then that the Maidenhair Fern is seen to 
advantage. In mossing the basket, which should be 
of wire, the former should never be used as lining 
inside as it generally is, but fastened on the outside 
with fine copper wire and pegs. In this way the moss 
soon takes hold and spreads, while if done the other 
way failure will invariably follow. The kind most 
preferable is that generally known as Fern-moss, which 
is widely distributed over England and Scotland. The 
baskets should be dipped overhead once or twice weekly 
in a tank, as the season of the year requires it. This, 
however, will not be sufficient for the moss, which, at 
least, should be syringed once a-day. To get ferns 
and moss into proper luxuriance, a moist shaded stove 
appears to be the most suitable place for their growth. 
This moss, as is well known, has such a beautiful 
appearance that baskets composed wholly of it would 
repay one’s labour. It must, however, be borne in 
mind that when grown in strong heat it must never be 
allowed to dry, or failure and death will follow. By 
paying strict attention in this manner to the baskets 
for a few weeks, they can be removed into the house, 
and if in any way favourably situated, will keep fresh 
for six weeks or two months. It is unnecessary to say 
that the appearance they make in a well-constructed 
hall is beyond comparison, and truly few (if any) other 
class of plants could pretend to adorn the place with 
half the effect.— D. Chisholm, TFardie House, Edin¬ 
burgh. -- 
THE BERMUDA LILY. 
This is one of the most certain and most useful Lilies for 
forcing purposes, and is a form or exceedingly fine 
variety of Lilium longiflorum, which is generally known 
in private establishments as L. Harrisii. Although 
claiming such a close affinity with L. longiflorum, it has, 
nevertheless, much larger flowers, and of a purer white, 
delicately and agreeably scented. "Whereas in the 
former the flower is tinted with green at the base of the 
segments interiorly, the latter is not, but has the 
additional merit of much greater substance. From 
12 ins. to 18 ins. is about the usual height of the stems, 
thereby rendering the plant a most accommodating 
subject as to size for conservatory purposes. The 
typical form has a very short resting period, and 
pushes forth young stems even when grown in the open 
air, before all danger of frost is over. This character 
seems to be greatly developed in the Bermuda Lily, 
which occasionally flowers several times in succession, 
without having any distinct resting period. When 
being forced, a gentle or mild temperature is all that 
is necessary to urge it into growth, and while this is 
maintained, the plants should be stood as near the glass 
as possible, otherwise the stems become thin and drawn, 
the leaves without substance, and the flowers will lack 
size and substance, and be few in number. Its fine 
flowering character is well shown in the accompanying 
illustration, for which we are indebted to Messrs. Janies 
Carter & Co., High Holborn. 
