880 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
February 14, 1891. 
ance of the beds continuously throughout the season. 
Some of the plants commonly used for bedding purposes 
are all that can be desired in a fine season, while in 
constant rainy weather, such as prevailed in the 
northern part of Britain last year, they are unsightly, 
and altogether objectionable. 
Pelargoniums of the flowering section, for instance, 
though universally admired in a good season, often 
assume a positively weedy appearance during a con¬ 
tinuance of adverse weather conditions, and conse¬ 
quently mar the general outline of many flower-garden 
designs. There can be little doubt that tuberous 
Begonias are gradually taking the place of Pelargoniums 
for bedding-out work, and for such positions as fore¬ 
courts where comparatively few plants would be required, 
they might well be substituted for the latter. The 
extra expense of first cost in introducing Besonias 
might be a consideration with some, but they would 
ultimately repay the grower by their continuous 
display of bloom in wet as well as in fine weather. 
Ornamental-foliaged Pelargoniums are also among the 
most valuable plants for the purpose we have in view. 
Mrs. Pollock and Flower of Spring are two of the best 
varieties in the golden and silver-edged sections. Such 
Ageratums as Imperial Blue and Cupid should also be 
noted, as they are reliable bloomers when raised from 
cuttings. Seedlings do not flower so well in a wet 
season, and are often anything but even iu height, at 
least such as been my experience with Imperial Blue. 
Respecting Verbenas, Purple King and the old 
scarlet Defiance ordinarily flower well, even in a 
showery season, but we have generally found autumn- 
struck plants flower best in sutch weather. Spring- 
struck plants are, however, productive of more succulent 
young growth, which is preferable for propagating 
purposes in autumn. These may be planted iu reserve 
beds. Another valuable weather-proof bedding plant is 
Verbena venosa, the bloom of which heavy rain seems 
to brighten rather than injure. If raised from seed 
sown not later than the middle of February in a warm 
frame, it will bloom from August till cut down by 
severe frost. Arranged with such plants as Veronica 
Andersoni variegata or the variegated Cocksfoot, 
Dactylis glomerata variegata is highly effective at a 
'Vstance. Cuphea platyeentra should not be overlooked 
in the planting of forecourt beds, more especially for 
such of these as are situated near walks ; in such 
positions they are more effective than when viewed 
from a distance. In regard to edgings where the soil is 
not too light and gravelly, blue and white Violas are 
to be preferred to Lobelia speciosa in a wet season, but 
good plants of the latter from cuttings may do well in 
light rich soil. Cerastium tomentosum, Echeveria 
metalliea, and Polymonium coeruleum variegatum a>e 
also suitable edging plants. J-he former must be kept 
well trimmed, otherwise it has a tendency to irregu¬ 
larity of growth. 
Let me add that it is essential to their free growth 
and profuse flowering when placed iti their summer 
quarters that all plants which have been raised and 
grown on more or less in heat under glass be thoroughly 
hardened off preparatory to planting out. Plants pro¬ 
cured from a nursery should be taken under cover for a 
few days, then gradually hardened by exposing them 
to the open air during the day, and protecting them at 
night till the weather is safe for bedding out. It is 
also a matter of moment that the plants do not suffer 
at any time from want of water during the time they 
are growing in pots, boxes, or other receptacles. Those 
in small pots are most apt to be overlooked, and if 
turned out in a dry condition will not thrive well. 
During dry periods, especially if the soil is light, a good 
soaking of water will be helpful to them when growing 
in their permanent quarters. 
I have seen very good displays of bloom in dry 
seasons from plants growing in heavy soils when no 
artificial watering was done. The surface was, however, 
kept well stirred with the hoe till the plants had almost 
covered the ground allotted them. Violas and bedding 
Pansies should be planted out as soon after the first of 
April as the state of the soil and the weather will 
permit, in case dry weather should set in before they 
have a chance of taking a good hold of the soil. 
If the latter be at all poor, a good dressing of old 
manure should be dug in before proceeding with the 
planting.—JA, N.B. 
-- 
THE RETARDING INFLUENCE 
TO FRUIT-TREE GROWING IN 
ENGLAND. 
Theke is at present, and has.been for some time, a 
desire on the part of a number of well-meaning persons 
induce our rural population to extend to the utmost 
the fruit-growing resources of the United Kingdom; 
and the many admirable treatises on fruit culture 
contributed to The Gardening World and other 
horticultural papers have served to develop their ideas. 
These treatises have been a gain to private gardeners, 
but I very much doubt if they have given any real 
impetus to the planting of fruit trees generally. It 
is evident that the wish for extended fruit culture 
does not emanate from the landowners as might be 
expected; as yet they seem to have no desire to 
encourage fruit growing to any extent, for in many 
cases that have come under my own observation exor¬ 
bitant rents have been asked, and in many cases 
received (but a3 a rule not from practical men), for 
land that was suitable for fruit culture. 
It is said, and I dare say correctly so, that orchards 
flourished on some of the most elevated districts in 
Northumberland fifty years ago ; but it is also said 
that in face of keen competition, consequent upon the 
extension of our railwa 3 r system and the easy trans¬ 
mission of goods, laxity of attention to those orchards 
set in. From reliable information I have been able 
to gain, I am convinced that it was more in the face of 
excessive rents and keen competition combined, that 
practical fruit growers failed to make their calling 
remunerative ; and in many cases they were supplanted 
by amateurs who bad no practical knowledge of fruit 
growing, and in that way practical orchardists have 
been gradually driven out of the field, while many of 
■ our orchards for want of proper management at the 
present day may be fitly termed skeleton orchards. 
The result was that our practical fruit growers were 
obliged to look for fresh fielis of labour ; many com¬ 
menced fruit shops in onr large towns, while some of 
the more enthusiastic emigrated to countries where 
they acquired land at its true value. There they 
commenced fruit growing with increased vigour, and 
taking advantage of the low rates of carriers, they 
are now supplying us and the world at large with 
wonderful examples of their skill. There is no gain¬ 
saying or disguising the fact, however, that had these 
men had proper encouragement on their native soil, we 
might still have been admiring the fine orchards of our 
native laud, and been able to have said in reality with 
the poet— 
*" But we’ve the Apple's ruddy bloom, 
And orchards’ rich supplies.” 
My object in writing is to try and show that the 
greatest obstacle to fruit growing in England is 
excessive rent charge, and that until some practical 
overtures are made in that direction by landowners, we 
may expect to find British fruit growing still further 
decline. How much better it would be for the whole 
of our rural population and the country generally, if 
landowners could be induced to discard their ideas of 
highest rents iu favour of fittest persons and fair rents ! 
Then, but not until then, may we expect to see 
every sheltered nook and favourable spot iu England 
clothed with fruit blossom in the spring time.— J. 
Charlton, Farnley Grove Gardens, Corbridge-on-Tyne. 
-—>-X<—-- 
Hardening Miscellany. 
Winter Flowers. 
There is at Brackenhurst, Cobham, Surrey, the resi¬ 
dence of E. H. Lusliington, Esq., a fine plant of the 
fragrant winter flo'wer, Chimonanthus fragraus, men¬ 
tioned on p. 361, which produces every year an 
abundance of its pretty odoriferous flowers. I have 
frequently seen shoots 4 ins. to 6 ins. long, clothed 
with fully expanded flowers. It is situated on a 
terrace at the foot of a wall, with a southern aspect, 
and I have noticed ripened seed pods which do not 
drop when matured, but hang for several months. 
When the flowers are gathered, the shoots are not cut 
off, the blooms are picked off, and I believe are arranged 
in moss in shallow vessels.— A. P., Ealing, IV. 
Cutting Down Chrysanthemums. 
I have not tried the system of layering introduced by 
Mr. Glasscock, but have had some experience with cut 
down plants and found the system answer admirably. 
I may say that I had blooms equally as large as some 
of the tall-growing ones. I would recommend “L. W.” 
(p. 33-3) to try this plan if he wants dwarf plants. 
Last year I grew half of my plants on the cut-down 
system, and the other half in the ordinary way. I 
picked out the strongest plants from the cutting-pots 
for the cut-down ones, and placed them about the last 
week in February into a 3-iu. pot ; when it was filled 
with roots I shifted them into a 5i-tm size, in which 
they were left until cut down. Of course I did not 
stop them until the second week in June, when they 
were cut back to about 6 ins. from the soil, and after 
they had broken about 1 in. I potted them into 
8I-in. pots, in which they flowered. I generally left 
about three or four growths, and disbudded in most 
cases to one bloom on a growth. Most of the plants 
grew from 21 ft. to 3 ft. high, and the results last 
year well repaid the trouble bestowed upon them.— 
C. IV., DoncasVr. 
The Winter Aconite. 
I should like to know whether this pretty little flower, 
I believe one of the very earliest harbingers of spring, 
is found growing wild iu many parts. I have only 
seen it “at home” but once, and that was in Essex. 
It was a perfect picture ; large masses were growing in a 
shrubbery, and pushing through a thick groundwork 
of Ivy. Its beautifully bright flowers formed a pretty 
contrast with its own foliage on the Ivy. It also grows 
in an adjoining churchyard, and in a meadow. We 
frequently tried to introduce them to other places, hut 
they will not thrive if disturbed, however carefully we 
move them, whether in clumps, or singly when at rest, 
and we were not successful in getting them to flower as 
they do iu their native habitat.— A. P., Ealing, W. 
Chorizema Lowii. 
Two little groups of this Chorizema were shown by 
Messrs. H. Low & Co., Clapton, at the last meeting of 
the Royal Horticultural Sjciety, when an Award of 
Merit was accorded the variety. The oblong-ovate 
leaves are deeply lobed and spiny, something in the way 
of C. 1 licifolia. The plants were dwarf, twiggy, and 
well flowered. The standard or upper petal of the 
flowers is of a deep orange colour, with a yellow eye¬ 
like spot at the base. The wings on the contrary were 
of a deep red. 
Iris Danfordice. 
This beautiful little Iris is otherwise known as I. Born- 
miilleri, and is as notable for its earliness as for its 
bright yellow flowers. Botanieally it is interesting 
because the standards are so reduced in size as to be 
almost obsolete. The three falls constitute the most 
conspicuous feature of the flower, and are obovate, 
cuneate, spreading upwards, and deep yellow, beauti¬ 
fully marked with greenish brown on the lower half. 
The pale green petaloid styles are bifid, and shallowly 
toothed along the edges. It was exhibited by Mr. 
T. S. Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, Tottenham, at the 
Drill Hall on Tuesday last, when a First Class Certifi¬ 
cate was awarded it. 
Hamamelis Zuceariniana. 
Were a popular name to be applied to this plant, it 
might be called Zuccarini’s Witch Hazel. Seeing tl at 
it comes from Japan, and that it has withstood the 
severe cold of the previous two months iu the open 
ground, it may be considered perfectly hardy. The 
shoots are much more elongated and twiggy than those 
of H. arborea coming from the same country, and the 
flowers are borne 1—3 together from the axils of last 
year’s leaves. The petals are primrose-yellow, linear 
and crumpled, while the sepals are small and red 
internally. A First Class Certificate was awarded it by 
the Royal Horticultural Society, when shown at the 
Drill Hall on Tuesday last by Messrs. J. Veitch & 
Sons, Chelsea. 
Drymophleeus olivesformis. 
The species of Drymophlseus are plumose-leaved 
Palms, natives of New Guinea, Tropical Australia and 
the Pacific Islands. A few of them are in cultivation, 
and that under notice is one of the most important. 
Iu a state of nature it forms a tree 30 ft. to 40 ft. high, 
with a slender trunk varying from 3 ins. to 4 ins. iu 
diameter. It can therefore be kept iu a comparatively 
small and manageable state in hot-houses for many 
years. The habit it possesses of becoming elevated on 
a slender stem, militates, however, against its being 
extensively used for decorative purposes, except in large 
groups or for corridors, landings, and similar places iu 
house decoration. The leaves are in themselves exceed¬ 
ingly ornamental and distinct, on account of the 
peculiar form of the pinnaj or segments, which are 
wedge-shaped or almost fan-shaped, irregularly truncate 
(cut short), lobulate and dentate at the apex. A 
similar conformation of the pinnae is met with in the 
species of Caryota, Arenga (Sugar Palm), and some few 
others. The Sugar Palm comes from the Moluccas, as 
does the Drymoplihuus under notice. The fruit, which 
