550 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
April 28, 1888. 
materially affect the number of leaves, except by sowing 
seeds and selecting seedlings that exhibit a more leafy 
character. C. pumila has ovate or heart-shaped leaves 
running nearly to the top of the stems, and resembles 
a dwarf, leafy form of the Harebell, but is specifically 
distinct. It is common in gardens.—E d.] 
-->*€-- 
COPROSMA BAUERIANA 
VARIEG-ATA. 
Among the many variegated plants that are grown to 
adorn the greenhouse, few possess a finer and cleaner 
form of variegation than this. It is extremely useful 
either in a small or a large state ; and in whatever con¬ 
dition it is seen, if healthy, it will always recommend 
itself to the beholder. Its bright shining foliage, upon 
which is a distinct margin of creamy white variegation, 
is produced thickly, the form of the leaf being 
obovate. 
To grow this plant well it should be pushed along 
sharp from small plants in an intermediate heat, and 
should the plant require to be kept bushy it should 
have its points pinched out from the leader of each 
shoot as they become large enough. If required to be 
grown in a pyramid form it should have a centre 
stake placed to the plant and a leader run up it, 
keeping the bottom and side shoots pinched into 
form as they produce themselves. It makes an 
excellent bedding plant in - the summer-time for 
massing in beds for effect, but care must be taken 
that it is not left out too late in the autumn for 
the frost to injure it. It may be lifted from the beds 
and potted into as small pots as the ball of soil can be 
conveniently got into, and kept close in a frame for a 
few weeks, when it will soon take hold of the new soil. 
Afterwards an ordinary greenhouse will suit its require¬ 
ments during the winter months. It seems to grow 
best in a soil of good friable loam with a little peat 
added, and sharp sand to keep the soil porous. 
It may be propagated by cuttings at the present time 
of the year, selecting the weaker side shoots that are 
just commencing to grow, and if they can be taken 
with a heel it will be more likely to root. Insert the 
cutting into some very sandy soil and cover with a 
bell-glass, plunging the pot into a bottom-heat of 
about 65° to 70°; and be careful that the damp does 
not settle about them, or they will go black at 
once should this precaution not be followed. If 
successful they soon root, and may be potted off as 
soon as ready, keeping close for a little time till they 
establish themselves in their pots.— TV. G. 
-->X<~- 
ON TRAINING GOOSEBERRIES. 
■\Ve have adopted a plan of growing Gooseberries which 
consists in training them upright to stakes, in rows 
3 ft. 6 ins. from row to row, and 2 ft. from plant to 
plant. The stakes are 4 ft. 6 ins. high from the ground 
line, and are connected together with a tile lath nailed 
on the top, I call attention to this system, not 
because there is anything new in it, but because it 
gives such facilities for protecting the buds of the 
bushes against the depredations of birds, and because it 
is, I think, admirably adapted to meet the requirements 
of those, who in small enclosed gardens, suffer so much 
from these marauders, and find it so difficult to secure 
even a moderate crop of fruit in spite of all their efforts. 
If they adopt this plan there will, with a small 
expenditure of time and material, be an end to their 
difficulties, and heavy crops of fruit will be secured. 
If in the autumn they draw the young branches 
closely together with tar-twine, and let them remain 
tied till the buds are far advanced, they then cease to 
be a temptation to the bullfinches, who will most 
likely take a few of the outside buds, but there will be 
plenty left for a good crop. ¥e have only just finished 
unfastening ours (April 21st), and have left a few 
untied to show the difference, which, we may say, is 
quite astonishing. This is by far the best plan we ever 
saw, taking very little if any more time than the 
whitewash and soot remedy, w’hich often proves more 
or less a failure, and is a nasty dirty job into the 
bargain. I should like to know how many, besides 
ourselves, have given it up in disgust and despair. 
If the operation, once performed, were sufficient for 
the season, one might be disposed to tolerate it, but it 
too often happens that the first heavy rains wash it all 
off, and then if the buds are to be preserved it must be 
done again, and we opine that there are too many like 
ourselves who cannot afford to play about in this way. 
To those who may wish to adopt this plan we must 
point out the necessity of starting a fresh plantation, 
because old plants pruned and trained in the usual way 
as bushes cannot be brought into shape ; and. indeed, 
the young plants supplied from nurseries are not quite 
so well adapted for it as they might be ; but by the 
judicious use of the knife they can be made to answer 
very well. The young shoots which are retained 
ought to be tied straight to stakes from the first ; any 
short odd lengths will do well enough for the first 
season, but if the plants do well the permanent ones 
will be required by the second year. — IF. B. G. 
-->X<~- 
THE GHENT NURSERIES. 
M. Ed. Pynaert-Yan Geert’s. 
The British horticulturist always finds himself at 
home in this fine establishment, and an inspection of 
its contents soon discloses the reason why. Among us 
it is said that there is a tiresome similarity between 
Belgian nurseries, but that of M. PynaertAan Geert is 
certainly an exception to the rule, and appeals to our 
svmpathies by its being constituted, as it were, a good 
English nursery grafted on to a fine one of the 
Belgian type. In explanation we may say that this is 
one of the few places in which we find interesting new 
plants, as we are used to understand them in the British 
Isles ; here, too, we find a good collection of Orchids, 
which now considered inseparable from a nursery 
establishment with any pretensions to general interest. 
Meeting also our home tastes we find a good collection 
of stove aud greenhouse plants, and especially those 
with variegated or coloured foliage ; and also an in¬ 
teresting lot of Ferns, which although not holding the 
first place in the plantsman’s esteem, never have and 
never will fall out of place, especially in the favour 
of those correct judges of beauty in plants—the 
ladies. 
Hardy herbaceous plants, Boses and noble hardy 
shrubs, together with the subjects before enumerated, 
give to this grand nursery all the essentials of a good 
English establishment, the similarity being by no 
means broken by the presence of the hearty, genial 
proprietor, or the good English in which he so 
pleasantly describes the treasures of his establishment. 
Beyond these things come in the usual great Belgian 
culture of Azaleas, Palms, Aspidistras, Bromeliads, &e., 
in which M. Pynaert-Yan Geert is not a w’hit behind 
the best of those who confine their attention to such 
things only. One side being bounded by a branch of 
the Fiver Escaut, and the other by the Faubourg de 
Bruxelles, a fine healthy air is secured at all seasons. 
The Orchids are comfortably arranged in some neat 
ranges of houses, the Cypripediums especially occupying 
great space and attention. Among them C. Morgans, 
C. marmorophyllum, C. Measuresianum, C. Bartetii, 
C. Harrisianum vivicans, C. amandum, C. aurorum, 
and C. oenanthum superbum were remarkably good. 
In one group in another house appeared a fine display 
of Lselia purpurata, Cattleyas, Odontoglossums. 
New plants of extra merit appear in Begonia 
Lubbersii, a charming subject, with the habit of B. 
argyrostigma, but with olive-green and silver foliage, 
and pure white flowers. Begonia President de 
Boureilles is also a very handsome kind. In Dichori- 
sandra toeniensis we have a very pretty novelty, with 
silver and green leaves, calling to mind Anaectochilus 
argenteus ; it is very free growing, and by pinching 
back may be made a lovely specimen for table 
decoration. Its flowers are blue and attractive. Fine 
new Sonerillas are also offered, their charming bronzy 
leaves, variously marked with silver blotches and stripes, 
and their profusion of pink flowers being very beau¬ 
tiful, and apparently distinct from all others hitherto 
distributed. Some new Bertolonias, Aphelandras, 
Nidularium striatum, a handsome Bromeliad, some 
new Aroids, and Pleopeltis picta, a most extraordinary 
Fern, with palm-like foliage, 1 ft. to 2 ft. in height, 
the main ribs being curiously coloured a reddish brown 
—these, among a host of others, afford plenty of interest 
to the plant lover. 
Among the Ferns, which are W'ell cultivated, appear 
a fine batch of the recently-introduced Davallia fceni- 
culacea, with elegantly-cut fronds ; the pretty Adiantum 
fragrantissimum, in quantity ; Adiantum dolabriforme, 
in grand plants, not new, but still rare ; A. Farleyense 
alcicorne, and Selaginella amcena, -with finely-cut 
fronds, something like a filmy Fern. The Palms have 
in rare plants the stately Bismarckia nobilis ; a new 
AVallachia, of beautiful form ; Calamus australis and 
C. Sikkimensis, both remarkable plants; Arenga 
grandis, A. Xiphias, Korthalsia robusta, and other 
rare things. Cordyline indivisa argenteo-striata, with 
white striped foliage, and C. indivisa Doucetii, with 
white-edged leaves, are both noble plants ; and some 
of the new Clivias for which this nursery is noted—no 
less than three houses being devoted to them—are 
grand in the colour, size, and substance of their flowers. 
The winter garden, with its winding path and 
ornamental water, over which lofty Palms, Cibotium 
spectabile, &c., arch gracefully, is just now a pretty 
sight, the massive foliage of the Palms being brightened 
by Azaleas and other plants in flower. Here is a grand 
specimen of Kentia Lindenii, 12 ft. or 14 ft. in height; 
a grand example of ChamsropS humilis gracilis, a 
noble Areca sapida. and some stately Kentias of differ¬ 
ent species are remarkable objects, and here, as in all 
other parts of the establishment, neatness and effective 
arrangement is found. 
Of Epiphyllum trancatum about thirty varieties are 
grown, some of the newer kinds showing great im¬ 
provements on the older ones ; a select collection of 
all the best new Coleus, too, are grown. Azaleas, 
Camellias, Araucarias, &c., in large quantities and 
excellent quality ; and a houseful of noble gold and 
green Dracaena Lindenii well displays its qualities as a 
decorative plant. In one of the houses large pans of 
Sibthorpia europsa variegata and of Saxifraga tricolor 
superba in grand condition, show that they are 
amenable to good culture. 
Outdoors Bhododendrons are fine and well budded, 
even the gold and green-leaved B. aucubaefolium here 
having escaped the injury which the winter has wrought 
in Belgium. Azalea mollis are fine and in large 
quantities. Bulbous plants, ornamental shrubs and 
Conifers, and, indeed, something of everything that an 
enthusiastic gardener could desire, are to be found. It 
remains only for visitors not to forget to visit the good 
establishment of Ed. Pynaert-Yan Geert whenever they 
find themselves within easy distance. It may safely, 
indeed, be said that they will not regret even going out 
of their intended track to do so. 
M. Auguste Yax Geert’s. 
The fine establishment at Mont St. Amand, Faubourg 
d’Anvers, is one of the most varied in its culture 
and the best conducted in Belgium. Always noted 
for the fine quality of its Azaleas, Camellias 
and other plants peculiar to Ghent nurseries, it 
has now acquired a good representative collection of 
Orchids, which make a fine display. In one arrange¬ 
ment, which occupies the end of a roomy span-roofed 
house, is a valuable lot in bloom, some of them re¬ 
presented by many specimens. As a sample, let us 
note the most prominent, viz.. Lselia purpurata (in 
large masses), L. cinnabarina (fine orange-scarlet 
variety), L. anceps, Dendrobium Brymerianum, D. 
Ainsworthii, and other Dendrobiums. Cattleya Mossis, 
C. Mendelii, C. Trianee, some grand Odontoglossum 
crispum, and 0. Pesgatorei, 0. nebulosum, 0. 
citrosmum, and a lovely pure white variety of it also 
very fragrant; 0. cirrhosum, 0. triumphans (and one 
of the best varieties of it ever seen), many 0. Bossii 
majus, two or three superb forms of 0. Andersonianum, 
0. Hallii, 0. hastatum Eoezlii, 0. Sanderianum, 0. 
vexillarium, 0. Boezlii, and Oneidium varicosum, 0. 
ampliatum majus, some good Ccelogynes, Miltonias, 
and Lycastes. In a warmer division, in flower, were 
some Yandas, Angnecum sesquipedale, and A. Leonis. 
The collection of Cypripediums may readily be 
supposed to be complete when we state that it embraces 
such varieties as C. Morgana?, C. microchilum, C. 
vexillarium, C. Mr. Canham, C. Mrs. Canham, &c. 
Many C. Lawrencianum were in bloom, along with 
C. argus, C. Boxallii, C. Harrisianum Brayanum, 
C. H. vivicans, C. barbatum IVarneri, and several 
interesting hybrids. Among the whole of them, 
perhaps, the neat and prettily-marked C. insigne 
Tresederi is one of the most attractive, as it will be 
one of the most useful, on account of its affinity to the 
favourite C. insigne. Its round dorsal sepal is heavily 
blotched with blackish chocolate, with a white tip. 
New plants, or those of recent introduction, have 
some striking novelties among them. Anthurium 
Comtesse de Kerchove is a fine thing, and will be a 
good addition to the now favourite genus; Nidularium 
argenteum striatum, handsome in foliage and still more 
beautiful when in flower. A strong specimen of Lomaria 
platyptera represents it as equal to a Cycas in beauty 
and not so heavy. Adiantum 0 Brieni is a grand new 
greenhouse Fern, having the habit of A. tenerum, but 
with elegantly-arranged pinnules, more like those of 
A. "Williamsi; and A. Fergusoni and A. Begins are, of 
course, known to be good, they having been proved in 
England. Many other new Ferns, mosses, and stove 
and greenhouse plants, known to be in the hands of 
