52 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
September 22 , 1888. 
s^of^idUbWfW. 
Aster, Comet. 
I think we are indebted to Mr. Charles Lorenz, of 
Erfurt, for this very fine novelty. Those who visited 
the Crystal Palace Show on the 7th inst. could not fail 
to have been struck with a stand of very fine blooms of 
this undoubted novelty, shown by Mr. Frank Glasscock, 
of Bishop’s Stortford, who grows’it to perfection. It 
was introduced in 1886 or 1887; it is of the same habit 
and height as the Victoria type, and while the shape 
of the flowers resembles to a large extent those of the 
Victoria, when finely grown the exterior petals are 
much longer than the others, and this gives the flower 
the appearance of a Japanese Chrysanthemum. The 
petals have a band of delicate pink down the centre of 
each, bordered with white on either side, and the flowers 
are very delicate in appearance and charming in the 
extreme. It has the tendency to revert to a pale rose- 
coloured self form, and, therefore, it is more than 
possible that it originated from a sport of that kind. 
It is, undoubtedly, one of the finest types of flat- 
petalled Aster that can be grown for exhibition.— R. D. 
Auriculas. 
The plants need to be frequently looked over, removing 
any decaying leaves, stirring the surface-soil, and 
keeping a sharp look-out for a Small green caterpillar 
that is very apt to find its way into the hearts of the 
plants and eat them, rendering bloom the following 
season impossible. Water just enough to keep the 
soil nicely moist and no more, is necessary—dryness 
rather than anything approaching soddenness is best 
for the plants at this time of the year. Give them 
abundance of air—let them have all the advantage of 
the fine open weather, and, if possible, air below as 
well as above. As the winter comes on, carefully 
cleanse any pots from a growth of green and dirt that 
may gather about them, and let everything around 
them be as neat as possible. Green-fly can be kept 
under by occasional fumigations. 
Carnations and Picotees. 
My own layers look so well, that I am disposed to 
think others are in the same condition. The advantage 
of layering in pots in preference to the open ground 
is conspicuously seen this season. In the open ground 
the heavy rains have washed away the soil above the 
layers, and the worms work among them in the most 
active manner, thrusting them up out of the soil. 
When the plants are in pots the grower has his layers 
under perfect control. A great deal of nonsense is 
being written just now about the deterioration of the 
florists’ Carnations and Picotees through cultivating 
them in pots under glass. It is only those who are 
utterly ignorant of the subject that can write such 
misleading stuff. The earliest-rooted layers can be 
potted off, placing them singly in small pots, or two of 
the same variety in a larger one. A mixture of good 
yellow loam, leaf-soil, and some rough sand will be 
found an excellent compost for the purpose. 
Polyanthuses. 
My plants, potted up a month or six weeks ago, are 
doing well. They are standing on an ash bottom on a 
north aspect, and being very actively engaged in 
making roots, appear to like the rains in the past, and 
equally so the fine open weather we are now enjoying. 
Here they will remain until the heavy autumn rains 
render it necessary to convey them to the shelter of a 
cold frame, and in this they will be wintered ; but it 
does not do to allow the plants to become too dry 
during the winter. A kind of dry rot appears to be as 
fatal to them as a superfluity of moisture. Any 
decaying foliage should be removed from the plants, 
the surface soil stirred, and injury from slugs and 
snails guarded against. 
Double Primroses. 
I have potted up these for exhibition at the National 
Auricula Society’s show in April next. The class, as 
it stands at present, is an unjust one, because it admits 
of pans of plants being made up—that is to say, a good 
many can be lifted from the open ground or frames and 
massed together, and then the prizes are pretty certain 
to go to those who have the largest stock. I should 
like to see this class kept exclusively to plants grown 
in pots, in order to give encouragement to those who 
take a fancy to this interesting group. I have already 
potted up the old Double Crimson, the White, Lilac, 
Purple, Early Sulphur, Platypetala plena, Crousii, and 
the Late Yellow. I treat them just as I would Poly¬ 
anthuses, taking care to give good drainage, and 
potting firmly. 
Pinks. 
Those who would grow good Pinks should now be 
planting their rooted pipings out in beds. If it is 
inconvenient to place them out now, some of the best 
of the young plants should be potted up, so as to make 
roots preparatory to being planted out later on. To 
have well-laced blooms the plants should be put out in 
the autumn. Let the beds be prepared by frequent 
turnings, adding well-decomposed manure to make 
them rich, for Pinks need such a soil; but previous to 
putting them out, make the surface level, planting 
in lines. The beds should be raised at least 8 ins. 
above the ground-level, to throw off the autumn and 
winter rains. Care should be taken to peg any leading 
shoots into position, so that they cannot be broken off 
by the wind.— R. D. 
Carnation, Emma Lakin. 
At the annual exhibition of the Carnation and Picotee 
Union, held in Mr. E. S. Dodwell’s garden at Oxford on 
August 14, Mr. Joseph Lakin, of Temple Cowley, showed 
several blooms of a seedling white Carnation under the 
name of Emma Lakin. On the opposite page we give 
an illustration of the flower, which is destined to 
become popular with growers of Carnations for ex¬ 
hibition purposes. It is pure white, with fine broad 
petals of remarkably good substance, and not too many 
of them to split the calyx ; altogether a massive- 
looking flower of perfect proportions. It was easily 
first in the single bloom self class, and also took 
honours as the premier self jin the show. By many 
good judges who saw the blooms at Oxford the variety 
is considered the best pure white Carnation in culti¬ 
vation, and Mr. Lakin may be proud of having raised 
so fine a novelty, for a really first-class white has long 
been a desideratum. 
-- 
GALLOWHILL, PAISLEY. 
About a mile eastward from the town of Paisley, on 
the Renfrew road, the main approach enters to Gallow- 
hill, the beautiful and tastefully-kept residence of 
Mrs. Kerr. Situated as it is on the summit of a 
gentle incline, the mansion has rather an imposing 
appearance when viewed from the public road, as it 
towers above the intervening and surrounding green¬ 
wood. On entering the gate, the visitor’s attention is 
at once drawn to a huge grassy mound, which was the 
scene, it is said, of an eventful occurrence in the history 
of Scottish royalty in the olden times. As tradition 
says, a Queen of Scotland, while out hunting, was 
thrown from her horse and killed, and to intensify the 
casualty, a future king was born at the same time. 
The carriage-drive on either side is ornamented with 
well-chosen and suitable trees and shrubs, and further 
on the scene is much enhanced by the presence of a 
beautiful fresh-water pond—an infallible acquisition to 
the enchantment of every pleasure ground. The chief 
feature, however, in connection with this place is the 
gardens. Attached to the house is a fine conservatory, 
which contains some splendid specimens of tree Ferns, 
Palms, and other large plants. A Cobaea scandens, 
trained on a lattice-work bordering and overhanging the 
plant stage, produces a capital and pleasing effect. 
The range in the kitchen garden comprises a stove, late 
and early vineries, Melon house, late and early Peach 
houses, Azalea house, greenhouse, and Camellia house, 
all span-roofed, besides a lean-to orchard house, 
fernery, propagating stove, Heath house, and several 
useful hot-water frames. 
In the small stove some splendid and well-coloured 
Crotons, and Asparagus tenuissimus for table use, are 
to be seen. The latter seems to be propagated here like 
a weed. A fine bed, as well as a few dozens of large 
pots of Eucharis amazonica adorn this house. Some of 
these showed two years ago, when taken in charge by 
Mr. Mclver, a strong tendency to disease. In the 
course of experiments a few pots were filled with pure 
sand, in which the bulbs were planted, and strange to 
say, the luxuriant foliage indicates that they are per¬ 
fectly at home in it. A pot which was turned out 
displayed one mass of healthy and vigorous roots. The 
stove proper—a large span-roofed house—is well filled 
with an assortment of excellent plants, such as Palms, 
Ferns, Alocasias, Anthuriums, Orchids, &c., testifying to 
the skill and attention they receive. A fine specimen 
plant with many spikes of the interesting Dove Plant 
(Peristeria elata), profusely flowered, graced the house, 
and on the roof a gorgeous display of Stephanotis bloom 
hung in one snowy sheet. 
The Ferns were well represented in the house devoted 
to their growth, among which a beautiful specimen of 
Microlepia hirta cristata was very prominent. The 
pits and frames were well filled with fine batches of 
winter stuff, such as Bouvardias, very large-berried 
Capsicums, Primulas, &c., all in first-class condition. 
I may note that the table plants here are a strong 
feature, and among them are some of the finest Crotons 
—Baronne I. de Rothschild, Etna, Queen Victoria, 
Catherina, a beautiful spiral-leaved plant, Johannis, 
and many others. Among the Dracaenas I noted D. 
vivicans, D. speciosa, D. Youngii, D. Baptistii, D. 
Gladstonei, D. Guilfoylei, D. Copperii, D. terminalis, 
and several others. As already noticed, Asparagus 
tenuissimus is greatly used, and takes the place of 
Maidenhair Fern in cut-flower decoration. 
In truth, throughout the entire departments the 
skilful manipulation of the various subjects reflects 
great credit on Mr. Mclver, the gardener, whose genial 
and courteous manner makes the visitor feel at home. 
As is, perhaps, too often met with in gardens, over 
attention is not wasted on any one special subject. On 
the contrary, everything grown is treated with equal 
assiduity and earnestness, that cannot fail to demand 
admiration, and effect the best possible results. In 
bringing these notes to a close, it may interest some to 
know that at present, hanging from the beautiful 
Stephanotis above noticed, there is a seed pod in the 
process of maturation, considerably larger than a 
turkey’s egg.— D. Chisholm. 
-- >X - c -- 
IMPROVING ORCHARDS BY 
GRAFTING.* 
"Where old fruit trees that are healthy and full of 
vigour are worthless for the market in a monetary 
sense, no time should be lost in grafting upon them 
new heads of an improved variety. 
If the system of stock grafting was better understood, 
especially out of the fruit-growing districts, worthless 
sorts would seldom be seen in the market, their place 
being taken with more profitable fruit. But to expect 
this to be done by the tenant, upon a yearly tenancy, 
is out of the question. To meet the difficulty to a 
certain extent, industrious tenants should be supplied 
with trees from the home nursery, or could be supplied 
by the trade at small cost, the tenant being under an 
agreement to protect them. Stock grafting is easily 
done, but the system requires to be known, as done in 
the fruit districts by local grafters, who each bears a 
degree of merit as to his success. W T hen once known, 
none need be afraid to cut off the third part of a worth¬ 
less tree any time during the winter months, cutting it 
into shape, in order that the grafter may have little to 
do when the season comes but to square the ends of the 
branches and insert his grafts. The season for grafting 
large trees is rather an unsettled question. I may state 
that we had great success last year at Ruxley Lodge in 
grafting old trees, and the strong shoots which I exhibit 
speak well for the system. The heads were cut off the 
trees in the month of February, and grafts were 
secured about the same time, and laid by the heel in a 
shady place, to prevent any premature growth. The 
grafts for this system require to be clean and free from 
American blight and canker, from two to three years 
old, and in size about the thickness of one’s second 
finger. The specimens of shoots which I produce were 
simply short grafts a year ago last May, the whole of 
the grafting being done in the last fortnight of the 
month. The work has only been done about sixteen 
months, yet the shoots have had two seasons’ growth, 
and reach nearly 10 ft. in length ; some of the stronger 
sorts are even longer. Upon a close examination, some 
of the strongest shoots may be seen to be showing fruit 
buds, and if we should be favoured with a fruitful 
season next year I have no doubt, from present appear¬ 
ances, we shall have a fair show of fruit. Stock grafting 
does not require to be commenced so soon as small whip 
or tongue grafting. The general order is—Cherries 
first, Plums next, finishing up with Pears and Apples. 
The tools which are required for the purpose are but 
few—a pocket knife, a shoemaker’s knife, a tenon saw, 
and a small mallet. 
A branch 2 ins. in diameter requires two grafts to 
thoroughly unite the end of the branch ; one of 4 ins., 
three grafts ; and so on in proportion. A stock or head 
of 9 ins. requires seven grafts in order to keep the head 
living until the leading shoots form the new tree, then 
all weakly and ill-placed shoots can be cut away. 
There is no particular secret in manipulating the end 
of the branch to receive the grafts, further than shaving 
away a portion of the rough bark, so that it may better 
match the thin bark of the scion, which ought to be 
placed so as to accurately face each other. Daubing or 
claying up the grafts is no doubt of some importance, 
*A paper read at the Crystal Palace Fruit Conference, by Mr. 
J. Miller, gardener to Lord Foley, Ruxley Lodge, Esher. 
