242 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
December T5, 1888. 
Gardening Notes from Ireland. 
Apple and Pear Trees in Irish Gardens. 
In the so-called management of Apple and Pear trees 
in Irish gardens, no defect—and there are many— 
is so apparent as the manner in which American 
blight is allowed to work its way on them through¬ 
out the country. The neglect to eradicate this 
pest is wide-spread, and it is causing the deaths of 
thousands of trees which could be saved by timely 
attention in getting rid of the blight. A lot of 
ignorance prevails regarding American blight, as in 
many places I have found people giving it the name of 
canker, and lest it might be thought there was any 
neglect shown regarding it, they are usually careful to 
add that “sure once they get canker, there is no curing 
them ; it must be in the soil it is.” This is the sort of 
reasoning that is permitting American blight to work 
its way unchecked over a wide area of country, and 
which is slowly working out the ruin of the trees. My 
observation of this state of things extends for many 
years back, and I have known of instances where fine 
old trees have died out from this cause ; and being 
replaced now and again by young trees, they too have 
gone the way of the old ones, and through the 
grossest ignorance regarding what was killing them. 
In saying this I am not to be taken as imputing to 
regular gardeners a want of knowledge in so important 
a part of their business, but rather to show that such 
losses have arisen through the employment of inexperi¬ 
enced men, who have in many places been appointed to 
take the positions formerly held by gardeners com¬ 
petent to discharge all the duties pertaining to their 
profession. No doubt it is this class of cheap Handy 
Andys who will be found to resort to the use of such 
a dangerous and deadly agent as gas-tar as a cure for 
the various pests which afflict Apple and Pear trees. 
Even in England it appears that persons of this class 
are to be found, as I notice a statement in a late issue 
of a London horticultural journal, that a number of 
the stems of the fruit trees had been dressed with gas- 
tar, with the view of preventing the female winter 
moth from laying her eggs on the stems and branches 
of the trees. Well, of course, tree3 so dressed are sure 
to die, and the probability is that a too confiding 
employer will be told the mishap is due to some other 
cause. I thought the effect of gas-tar on all vegetable 
life was generally known to be so destructive that no 
one could be found to use it. It seems, however, that 
nothing less than actual experience with it will please 
some people. 
Permit me to give a case bearing on this subject. A 
landed proprietor who had a fine twenty to twenty-five 
years old mixed plantation running alongside a race¬ 
course, was much annoyed by persons climbing up the 
trees to watch the racing, causing, of course, some 
injury to them. To prevent this occurring again, he 
gave orders to have the trees painted with gas-tar just 
before the races were to come off, and needless almost 
to say, that while he succeeded in keeping off the 
roughs, he at the same time took the best way of 
effectually killing every tree to which the gas-tar had 
been applied. Instances of a like nature could be 
multiplied, but I hope the one mentioned will be sufficient 
to caution anyone disposed to use it for destroying 
American blight or any other destructive pest which 
may be found injuring fruit trees. Whatever remedy 
is made use of for the extirpation of American blight, 
it is time that owners of these fruit trees in Irish 
gardens took steps to preserve them in a healthy 
condition. [See p. 243.] 
East Lothian Stocks. 
In the hunt after white flowers, it appears that this 
Stock is not made sufficient use of for producing 
them. For pot culture, there is no doubt that they 
could be made admirable use of for cutting at this 
season of the year. Of this I had very recent experience, 
in seeing a good lot of plants grown in this way under 
glass in frames. In the same place were a nice lot 
planted out, and in full flower, but which, if not pro¬ 
tected, w'ould of course succumb to the first frost 
reaching them. I suggested this latter course, and if 
attended to in this instance a good supply of these 
white flowers could be obtained until after Christmas. 
By-and-bye the plants in the pots will be removed from 
the frames to a greenhouse, where they will remain in 
flower for some time, and these, as well as the others 
planted, will be expected to flower again during the 
next summer.— W. D. 
Impatiens Sultani. 
On a late occasion I had an opportunity of seeing a fine 
well-grown collection of these plants, and I think that 
as a house decorative plant for this time of year, there 
are few other flowering subjects equal to Impatiens 
Sultani. The plants were growing in 7-in. pots, of very 
luxuriant habit, and were remarkably free in their 
flowering. When seen in quantity, and flowering as I 
saw them, few could fail to admire them. These plants 
had done duty the best portion of the summer in a 
conservatory attached to the dwelling-house, and being 
somewhat drawn, when autumn arrived they received a 
slight shift, and were transferred to low houses, and 
placed near the glass in an Adiantum house, and the 
effect produced was as I have mentioned above. In the 
same house were some plants of the new I. Hawkeri, 
looking remarkably stout in growth, but they do not 
appear to be so free in flowering as I. Sultani. Again, 
very small plants of the latter can be had the whole 
season through, densely covered with bloom when it is 
well done, while I. Hawkeri appears to attain a good 
size before it shows flowers. At the same time, as 
decorative plants I think room can be found in most 
plant collections for both species. I. Sultani is 
a general favourite, and although it sometimes meets 
with some rough usage in trying to winter it in green¬ 
houses, where it does not receive the requisite amount 
of heat, still it is certain to be grown largely. The 
freedom with which it can be produced from seeds will 
cause it to be looked for, and its fine blooming qualities 
will always give satisfaction for any little trouble gone 
to in its cultivation. 
-- 
KIT'TYBREWSTER NURSERY, 
ABERDEEN. 
On the northern outskirts of Aberdeen, and close by 
the Kittybrewster railway station, are the nurseries of 
Messrs. Cardno & Darling. The Kittybrewster Nursery 
occupies an area of about twenty-three acres, and is 
mostly planted with forest trees, mainly Coniferse, 
but also containing large breadths of hard-woods or 
deciduous trees. There is also a large assortment of 
ornamental trees and shrubs, and a good collection of 
herbaceous and Alpine plants, florists’ flowers, &c. 
The ranges of glasshouses are also located here. 
Forest Trees. 
Of Larch and Scotch Pine there are breadths of healthy 
young trees from one to five years old. There are also 
large quantities of untransplanted seedlings in beds 
that were raised from home-grown seeds. Trees so 
raised are more suitable for the Scotch climate than 
those raised from Continental seeds. The two and 
five-year-old seedling Spruces (Picea excelsa) are very 
healthy, and transplant readily till they become of 
large size. The common Silver Fir (Abies pectinata) is 
frequently planted as a forest tree in Scotland, and 
often attains an immense size. There is a considerable 
quantity of four-year old seedlings in the nursery. 
Then there are Beeches three years old, Thorns three 
years, Birch two years, Scotch Plane or Sycamore four 
years and from 1 ft. to 3 ft. high, Norway Maple two 
years, Cherry, Ash and Laburnum from one to three 
years, Oaks, Spanish Chestnut and Elms from 1 ft. to 
2 ft. high, and Black and Taurian Poplars from 1 ft. 
to 3 ft. high. There is also a collection of Limes, 
Planes, Willows, Poplars, and other subjects from 6 ft. 
to 12 ft. high. 
Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. 
Conifers are represented by healthy young trees of 
Abies nobilis, A. n. glauca, Araucaria imbricata, 
Retinospora plumosa, in various forms ; Cupressus 
Lawsoniana, C. L. lutea, and C. L. Eraseri, columnar 
plants of great beauty, differing from C. L. erecta 
viridis in its close habit and glaucous colour, while the 
latter is green. C. L. nana, and the silvery glaucous 
C. L. elegans, are represented by plants from 1 ft. to 
2£ ft. high. Then there are Thuyas in plenty, and 
Thujopsis dolobrata. The Colchicum Laurel is a more 
rapid grower than the common Cherry Laurel, is hardier, 
and more handsome. Borders are planted with 
Mahonias and Box, from 1 ft. to 2 ft. high, and 
Portugal Laurels are about the same height. There are 
also large quantities of seedlings of Rhododendron 
ponticum and named hybrids. Green and variegated 
Hollies, named sorts, also receive considerable attention. 
Amongst deciduous trees we noticed double-flowering 
Thorns, red-berried Elder, Copper Beeches, Weeping 
Willows and Elms, and healthy strong-growing speci¬ 
mens of Dimorphanthus mandshurieus, with large 
bipinnate leaves. Amongst fruit bushes, there are 
good quantities of Black Currants and Gooseberries, 
from one to four years old. 
Herbaceous Plants and Hothouses. 
The last week of September was not a very suitable 
time to see herbaceous plants in great variety, yet some 
choice subjects were in flower, including Galtonia 
candicans, Lilium tigrinum, L. longiflorum, Colchicums, 
Gaillardias, and Pyrethrums, both single and double, 
flowering plentifully the second time. Christmas 
Roses are also grown to some extent, and large collec¬ 
tions of Pansies and Violas. 
The greenhouses at that time were bright with White 
Queen, Madame Desgranges, and M. G. Wermig 
Chrysanthemums and tuberous Begonias, as well as 
B. Ascotensis and B. Weltoniensis. Camellias, Azaleas, 
Acacias, Roses, Eupatorium odoratum, and Aralia 
Sieboldii, are also grown in quantity. The stoves and 
pits were occupied by a mixed and varied collection of 
different subjects, including some batches of seedling 
Gloxinias in flower. Stephanotis, Pandanus Veitchii, 
Clerodendron Thomsonse, Ananassa sativa variegata, and 
Calathea zebrina, are indispensable decorative subjects, 
and to be found in most establishments, as well as 
Selaginella Kraussiana, S. K. aurea, and S. K. Brownii, 
so useful for decorative work. 
-—XtX-- 
THE INTERMEDIATE HOUSE. 
WlNTER-FLOWEEING PLANTS. 
In this particular department it cannot be said that 
there is, during the winter months, what may fairly be 
called an abundance of bloom ; still there are many 
plants which will tend to render the house, if not gay, 
at least cheerful, and it is because of their flowering 
at this period that they are so welcome. Among the 
number may be mentioned : — 
Thyrsacanthus rutilans. — This is certainly a 
most desirable subject, and one that looks well in any 
collection. The flowers are tubular in shape, of a bright 
rosy pink colour, and borne on drooping racemes, 
produced from the axils of the leaves at the extremity 
of the growth. Their culture is simple ; in the spring, 
cuttings may be taken, which, with bottom heat, will 
soon strike and root freely; pot them on as soon as ready, 
so that no check is received in their growing period 
for want of root room, and consequently, nourishment. 
Pinch, to induce the formation of a dwarf habit, which 
increases their value. Soil composed of loam, leaf-soil, 
silver-sand, with a little peat, will suit them admirably. 
Water can be freely given, and liquid manure in weak 
doses will be found beneficial; the syringe should also 
be used frequently. Plants thus treated will furnish 
good results, and with a fair number of shoots will 
make an attractive show when in bloom, especially 
showing to advantage when raised up. Old plants 
may be grown on, but these will, in time, become 
unsightly, when the cuttings may be taken and treated 
as above. 
Plumbago rosea. —This beautiful species deserves 
to be more frequently met with than is generally the 
case. The flowers are small, rosy pink in colour, 
borne on long spikes which proceed from the shoots at 
their extremities. Their blooming period is prolonged 
on account of its continuity. Cuttings may be taken 
to increase the stock, but old plants cut back are the 
best for making a show, and whether used for grouping 
or as cut flowers, are always admired. Its cultural 
requirements differ little from the foregoing, and both 
may be grown side-by-side. 
Begonia insignis. —This may be called an autumn 
bloomer ; so it is, and will continue in full beauty for 
weeks to come. Profuse flowering is characteristic of 
this species, small flowers being of a blush-pink, and 
very pretty. It is an evergreen variety, requiring much 
the same treatment all the year round. Loam, leaf-soil, 
and sand will suit very well. After blooming, the long 
growLh should be cut back to keep the plant within 
reasonable proportions, also the old wood gradually 
dies, and these are quickly replaced by new shoots 
issuing from the base of the plants, which under 
favourable conditions grow rapidly. They are benefited 
by being placed in a greenhouse during the summer 
months to ripen them up, afterwards introducing them 
into a warmer house to flower. — F. E. S. 
-- 
PARAFFIN IN THE GARDEN. 
I am glad to see that your correspondent, Mr. Alex. 
TV right, has again taken up the question of paraffin 
oil, recommending its use in various ways. I have 
written strongly in its favour previously in your journal 
as an insecticide, and as a remedy against the attacks of 
birds, mice, insects, &e., on seeds and young seedlings; 
and further experience has convinced me that, in my 
opinion at least, it cannot be equalled by any known 
remedy, as it is both effectual and economical. 
