June 9, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
647 
more northern or inland districts it will withstand the 
severity of our winters as a rule, and flower abundantly 
while yet of small size. The purple flowers are pro¬ 
duced from short spurs on the old wood, and now 
render the small tree a handsome object. They 
precede the leaves for a short time only, but are thus 
seen to best advantage ; and are succeeded later on by 
long flat, brown or red pods that hang on the tree 
during the greater part of winter. 
The 'White Alpine Ateagene. 
The typical form of this climber has blue flowers, and 
although beautiful in itself, is far surpassed by the 
variety under notice, which has large and substantial- 
looking pure white flowers. There is a specimen of it 
flowering at Kew at the present time, which was sent 
there under the name of Clematis austriaca ; but 
having flowered, it turns out to be Atragene alpina 
alba, and a grand thing it is. The stems grow from 
4 ft. to 8 ft. in height, and are much more tractable, 
and easily kept within bounds when planted amongst 
other subjects where'accommodation is limited. The 
four sepals are somewhat incurved, and the whole 
flower drooping oh its stalk—a characteristic that adds 
greatly to its beauty. Seeing that it is partial to 
mountainous districts, and especially on a limestone 
soil, it would, no doubt, prove at home on a rockery, 
where it should be made to trail over some of the more 
prominent stones or the higher ledges. It is by no 
means a new thing, as Decandolle said long ago that 
the type varied with white flowers. The botanical 
characteristics that separate Atragene from Clematis 
are numerous small petals resembling petaloid stamens, 
and flowers are developed in the axils of the previous 
season’s growth, so that the winter buds are larger 
than those of Clematis. 
The Double Scaelet Thorn. 
The garden varieties of our native Hawthorn are simply 
endless ; but no doubt a great number of them have 
died out or become lost to cultivation since Loudon’s 
time, owing to the comparative neglect that ornamental 
and landscape trees have suffered since his day. It is 
gratifying to learn that the old love for these things 
still lingers in some places, and that in the near future 
they will again be planted largely. A beautiful effect 
is sometimes produced in garden scenery by planting 
ornamental Thorns at intervals in the hedges, allowing 
them to rear their heads above that portion which is 
kept pruned and tidy. Their habit of forming a round 
and spreading head is then seen to the best advantage, 
and the effect when in bloom is much finer than when 
planted in the shrubbery. The first double scarlet 
Thorn in this country appeared with the late Mr. Masters, 
of Canterbury, who is said to have imported it. 
Botanically it is Cratiegus oxyacantha punicea flore 
pleno, and more recently a much darker-flowered 
variety has been distributed under the name of Paul’s 
New Scarlet. The flowers, however, are not scarlet in 
any of the Hawthorns, but in this case may be 
described as a brilliant deep rose. They are perfectly 
double, exceedingly handsome, and last a long time in 
perfection. Being of small size the double red 
Hawthorns should be planted in every villa garden in 
country or town, as they stand smoke admirably. 
The Mountain Clematis. 
The flowers of Clematis montana are pure white, con¬ 
siderably smaller than those of Atragene alpina alba, 
but from their great profusion the plant is equally 
desirable as a climber for covering high walls, which it 
envelops with a sheet of white blossom during May or 
June, according to the character of the season. This 
year it is considerably later than usual, owing to the 
long cold spring, and had only begun to open its 
flowers in the southern counties of England by Whit¬ 
suntide ; whereas in the milder seasons it may be seen 
covering the fronts of houses, either in town or in the 
country, with a sheet of white. It is a native of the 
Himalayas, at elevations of from 5,000 to 7,000 ft., 
and proves perfectly hardy in this country, where it 
has been grown more or less since 1831. 
The Portugal Broom. 
The so-called White Broom of gardens is really the 
plant under notice, namely, Cytisus albus, and not a 
variety of our own native species as many suppose. 
The similarity is certainly considerable ; but the 
branches are, to the inexperienced eye, even much more 
slender and graceful. Its evergreen character, however, 
is due to the same cause as the Yellow Broom of our 
commons. Both are deciduous, but the numerous 
twiggy branches retain their deep green character all 
the year round. The flowers are most profusely pro¬ 
duced all along these shoots, and are pure white in the 
typical form, although there are pale yellow and pink 
varieties in cultivation. 
otes from Scotland. 
Neglected Flants. — Prostanthera lasi- 
anthos. —What a magnificent plant for conservatory 
decoration this is, and yet how seldom do we see it! 
I came across some grand bushes of it in the houses at 
Scone Palace, near Perth, recently, and would advise 
those who are in search of a flowering plant of sterling 
merit to grow it. The bushes referred to were 5 ft. 
high and 5 ft. through, and the fine branched spikes of 
white floWers spotted with purple were fully 18 ins. 
long—a grand object. Mr. McKinnon, who does 
things well here, intends growing it in large quantities. 
In my peregrinations I sometimes come across some 
good old-fashioned things. For instance, in a conser¬ 
vatory at New Battle Abbey, near Dalkeith, there is a 
grandly-flowered plant of Cantua dependens trained up 
one of the pillars. On the sides of the same house are 
two fine plants of Clianthus puniceus magnificus 
also one mass of flowers ; and on the back wall close by 
is the old Acacia Riceana in full glory. All these are 
objects of great beauty when seen in such perfection as 
Mr. McHattie has them. Why do not more gardeners 
cultivate these good old things ? One sees many 
suitable places vacant where they could be grown well. 
A Japanese Acer. — At Messrs. Dickson & Turnbull’s 
nursery, Perth, there is a very fine specimen of Acer 
atropurpureum growing in a nook in the grounds. It 
is fully 10 ft. high, feathered to the ground, and forms 
a glorious object, its bright-coloured foliage being very 
conspicuous. I always go and look at it, for I have 
seen it annually for something like ten years, and have 
watched its progress with interest. This, in suitable 
situations, is well worth planting, and so are many of 
the other Acers. 
Hardy Cypripediums and Orchis foliosa and its 
varieties I often see in Scotch gardens. Dr. Patterson, 
Bridge of Allan, grows them well, and Mr. Macdonald, 
of The Woodlands, Perth, cares for them also, for in 
his garden at the present time fine clumps of Cypri- 
pedium calceolus are flowering grandly, and the other 
varieties look most promising. These are glorious 
plants when seen as they are done at these places. 
The Weather is wonderfully changeable here, and 
has been for some time past. On June 2nd I walked 
out to Scone Palace, from Perth. Going over the 
bridge that spans the river a fine view of the Grampian 
Hills is obtained, and they were covered with t snow. 
I also learnt at Scone from Mr. McKinnon, that they 
had had 3° of frost. Calling upon Mr. Robert Pullor, 
Tayside House, on my return, I found in his splendid 
conservatory, amongst many well-grown examples of 
cultivation, some of the best specimen herbaceous 
Calceolarias it has been my pleasure to behold for some 
time. The strain is a good one, the plants exceedingly 
well done and magnificently flowered ; they were grown 
in 7-in. pots, and were 2 ft. high and 3 ft. through 
—grand objects for conservatory decoration. Primula 
obconica is also well done here, as also are Pelargoniums. 
Mr. McDonald, the gardener, attributes his success in 
the cultivation of these to the use of Thomson’s Manure, 
which is mixed with the compost used for potting. 
While mentioning this manure, I may say that I have 
during the past few years seen some remarkable and very 
satisfactory results from the use of it. I have made 
inquiries from the leading and most experienced 
gardeners in the United Kingdom, and all those who 
have used it very highly recommend it. I mention 
this with the full knowledge that many have spoken 
disparagingly of some things that have been put before 
the public, and rightly too ; but those who require 
a good manure for general use can rely upon this. — 
Rusticus. 
Mistakes in Shrub Pruning 1 .— It is not un¬ 
common—among amateurs especially—to delay all 
their shrub pruning till growth has been completed, 
and among flowering kinds until the flower buds are 
set, but such a practice is very reprehensible and most 
disappointing. Conifers sending up more leaders than 
one, should have the necessary reduction made before 
any material wasting of the strength of the tree occurs. 
Side shoots that are growing out of form and disfiguring 
the plant should also be cut in to aid other portions in 
making the desired growth. All evergreen shrubs in 
full growth can be materially aided by a judicious use 
of the knife. An even growth should be maintained 
by reducing the robbing shoots as soon as they are per¬ 
ceived to be leading to deformity and mischief. Such 
shrubs as Rhododendrons, Kalmias, Azaleas, Lilacs, 
Ribes, Syringas, and many others which form their 
flowering wood the year previous to the development of 
blossoms, should have any necessary pruning performed 
as soon as the flowering period ceases, and the present 
time is suitable to begin such work. Shrub flowering 
is generally late in northern parts, but it is in great 
abundance.— Caledonian. 
Useful Shrubs. —While arranging shrubberies 
and plantations generally, it has been invariably our 
practice to place trees and shrubs with striking appear¬ 
ances in prominent positions. Groups of Brooms, 
golden and white ; Thorns, of sorts, Laburnums, 
variegated Hollies, and others too numerous to be 
recorded, when standing distinctly among dense foliage 
of other kinds have a most pleasing effect, and are seen 
at great distances. One shrub among the deciduous 
classes deserves extensive cultivation, and that is 
the Golden Elder. We have planted many of late 
years, which have made gigantic bushes already, and 
in positions where they would soon smother their 
fellows (mostly evergreen). The plants have an annual 
pruning, many being reduced to circular form, others 
as half-standards. They are already into free growth, 
yellow as gold, and forming their beautiful flower buds, 
which are most striking.— Caledonian. 
Young Fruit Trees. —Very often the necessary 
attention to young fruit trees is too long delayed, and 
gross growth may have done mischief enough that 
cannot be retrieved for seasons, if ever, without cutting 
severely into the young growth, which is wasteful, and 
represents gross neglect. The times being now past 
when a quarter of a lifetime had to be spent patiently 
before an ordinary wall was covered with trees in full 
bearing, renders it all the more incumbent that early 
attention should be directed to the trees in their early 
stages of growth, in order to have them well balanced, 
and their strength proportionate on all sides. The 
centres, while being formed with even shoots, must 
not be allowed to fill up rapidly with gross wood, 
which assuredly assimilates all the strength of the tree, 
while the side and under shoots become stunted, and 
soon cease growing altogether. The gross leaders 
should be stopped in their very early stages, and the 
others kept as upright as the system of training will 
allow, as then it is a simple matter to put them in 
their places perfectly straight when growth is com¬ 
pleted. It is an easy matter to keep a tree in good 
condition when it has been skilfully manipulated in 
the early stages of growth. Fruiting and the general 
health of the tree must have its origin from the time 
of planting, and the present season must not be allowed 
to extend far without due attention to disbudding, 
stopping, destroying insects which attack the foliage, 
and watering. If the latter is at all necessary it ought 
to be supplied so that every fibre is reached and the 
soil thoroughly moistened. All fruit trees can be 
trained into any form that may be desired, but fan 
training and the horizontal system appear to be mostly 
in favour, and should be done thoroughly at the 
beginning, which reduces labour to a minimum when 
the trees are at their full size. I do not intend 
adverting to the benefits of piecemeal root-pruning of 
young trees, but have to-day (May 29) been looking at 
some gross young trees on a low wall, stopping and 
regulating the growths, which may have all their front 
and downward roots shortened before this appears in 
print.— Caledonian. 
A Destructive Frost. —Mr. John Kitley, 
writing from Aviemore, Rothiemurchus, under date 
29th May, says:—Last night we experienced the 
severest frost I ever remember at this season of the 
year, and it is to be hoped will not recur again for a 
very long time. All the tender shoots on the hard¬ 
wood trees, more especially the Beeches, are completely 
killed, also the young growths of Ferns. Hardy 
herbaceous plants were prostrate in the early morning, 
but revived later on, but Asparagus is killed as far as 
it was above ground. Early Potatos are hopeless. 
My grass thermometer registered 10°, or 22° of frost, 
and the protected thermometer, 4 ft. above the ground, 
23° or 9° of frost. If this frost has covered a large area, 
the result must be very disastrous. The great difference 
between the grass and protected thermometer is very 
remarkable.— Scotsman. 
Scottish Horticultural Association. — 
The ordinary monthly meeting of this association was 
held in Edinburgh on Tuesday evening, Mr. Alex. 
M’Kinnon, Scone Palace, Perth, being in the chair. A 
paper was read by Mr. Williamson, Tarvitt, Cupar-Fife, 
on “Flower shows and judging thereat.” He referred 
to the growth of flower shows during the last twenty- 
five years, and to the beneficial influence they had 
exerted on horticulture and on the public taste. In 
the second part of his paper he brought before the 
meeting a system of judging by means of marks assigned 
to each ,plant, urging an increase in the number of 
marks at present given, for reasons of practical 
convenience. In the discussion that followed, and in 
which a good many of the members joined, Mr. 
Williamson was thanked for his paper, but there was 
great difference of opinion upon the merit of the scheme 
which he advocated. Some held that a standard by 
which flowers could be judged should be set up, in order 
to prevent cavilling at flower shows. There was an 
interesting exhibit of flowers, some of which had been 
sent from Ireland. 
