264 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
December 22, 1888. 
gardens throughout the country, and testifies to the 
taste and enthusiasm of Mr. Jenner, and a love of all 
kinds of hardy plants. There are borders planted with 
Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Hollies, and Portugal Laurel 
edged with Erica vagans, E. v. alba, Calluna vulgaris, 
and Menziesia polifolia in great variety. Behind these 
are Daphne Laureola, Cephalotaxus Eortunei and C. 
drupacea, about 4 ft. high, Magnolia acuminata, the 
Alexandrian Laurel (Ruscus racemosa), Ligustrum 
japonieum and L. vulgare ovalifolium in full flower. 
Spiraea Lindleyana and S. sorbifolia formed large 
bushes about 8 ft. or 9 ft. high, and had flowered 
magnificently. Eseallonia rubra was also flowering as 
well as the double rose-flowered Bramble. The Holly- 
like Desfontainea spinosa has been out for two years, 
and Osmanthus illicifolius flowered last year. 
A healthy pyramidal specimen of Sequoia gigantea 
about 18 ft. high was rooted as a cutting in 1875. 
Many of the Oaks and other trees were raised from 
seeds. Fine healthy pieces or trees of Quercus Cerris 
variegata, Q. Ilex Fordii, Cunningham’s Beech (Fagus 
Cunninghamii), Castanea vesca variegata, Pavia macro- 
stachya, Pterocarya lsevigata, P. caucasica, Rhus 
typhina, 10 ft. high, and others are growing up to be 
beautiful trees each according to its habit. A large 
plant of Ribes macrostemon (fuchsioides) grows right 
in the open ; and we were very much struck with the 
singular habit of Sambucus nigra fastigiata with 
upright branches and leaves closely adpressed to them. 
We must necessarily omit mentioning a large number 
of the trees grown. 
-»>!<-»- 
ffoTES ON fgRUITS. 
The Quarrenden. 
Before we endeavour to determine upon the correct 
appellation of this famous early Apple, would it not be 
well to institute inquiry into the origin, as well as 
of the names, of many other of our old Apples. It 
is perhaps only by such means that we may hope to 
arrive at any exact conclusions as to the basis of 
Apple appellations. There is another very old Apple, 
as old doubtless as the Quarrenden, I mean the good 
old Hawthornden, and locally almost invariably pro¬ 
nounced Hawthorndean. Why such should be the 
case it is not easy to understand, except it bear the 
hypothesis—and I think a natural one—that rural 
or provincial-speaking people almost invariably corrupt 
nomenclature more or less. I have found that con¬ 
stantly to be the case in relation to other things besides 
Apples. How, there is this interesting coincidence in 
relation to the terminology of both the fine old kinds 
I have referred to, that they each finish on “den.” 
That should form a clue, which, if followed up, would 
in time lead, no doubt, to some tangible informa¬ 
tion being obtained. Possibly both kinds may have 
originated at the same time, and both may have been 
of northern origin. We know of a place called 
Hawthornden. Is there also such a place as Quarrenden ? 
If not, then what is the root or origin of Quarren ? 
Is it associated with Quarr Abbey, which is, however, 
in the south ? I have already held the term Quaran¬ 
tine to be a corruption, not the least for the reason that 
it again has as often been corrupted into Qualantine. 
With respect to the Apple itself, I must say no such 
fruits are to be seen now as were abundant in market 
orchards fifty years ago. Then they became of blood- 
red tints in some cases, in others were of the loveliest 
combination of white and red, but always when ripe, 
and especially when fallen on the grass, so soft, sweet, 
and delicious. They seem to have retrograded some¬ 
what.— A. D. 
Worcester Pearmain Apple. 
The beauty of this Apple is now well known to most 
growers, although of comparatively modern origin. 
It is stated to be a seedling from Devonshire Quarren¬ 
den, and was sent out by Messrs. Richard Smith & Co., 
of Worcester, in 1873. The fruit is of medium size 
and conical, smooth, and when grown in the more 
favoured south, is entirely covered with a brilliant red 
colour. North of the Tweed, however, the red is more 
or less confined to the exposed side ; but even then it 
is a handsome Apple for the dessert table. Ho better 
proof of its appreciation by growers generally could be 
had than the number of exhibits made of it at the 
late Apple and Pear Conference, most of which were 
particularly highly coloured. The flesh is tender, 
crisp, and sweet, and although it is stated to be ripe 
in August and September, it will keep in excellent 
preservation till the new year at least, under favourable 
conditions. The specimens on which we base this 
observation were grown north of the Tweed, and it 
may be that latitude and late ripening have something 
to do with its late keeping. In a dry atmosphere it 
will shrivel somewhat, but the crispness and sweetness 
of the flesh is not impaired, or only to a slight degree. 
Chatley’s Kernel Apple. 
Among the new or little-known varieties of Apples that 
are coming to the front, we are inclined, from infor¬ 
mation lately received concerning it, to accord a high 
position to Chatley’s Kernel, a Worcestershire variety, 
which is being extensively propagated by Messrs. 
R. Smith & Co. It was raised somewhere near 
Droitwich, and has a high local reputation as a long 
keeper. The tree is said to be a good upright grower, 
while the fruits are medium to large in size, perfectly 
round and smooth, dark red and speckled, and of fine 
culinary quality. Gathered the same time as Dumelow’s 
Seedling, the fruits keep as heavy and as fresh to the 
following June or July as Dumelows are in winter ; and 
that it can be kept in first-rate condition until an even 
later period is proved by the fact that at the Worcester 
show, in August, 1887, a dish of Chatley’s Kernel, 
twelve months old, and shown by Mr. T. Rowley 
Hill’s gardener, beat all the new season’s Apples that 
were staged in the culinary class, and until after the 
judges had made their awards they knew nothing of 
the age of Mr. Hill’s specimens. Planters for profit, as 
well as gardeners, should clearly keep an eye on 
Chatley’s Kernel. 
Beauty of Kent Apple. 
When well grown there can be no doubt that this is 
one of the most handsome of culinary Apples. As a 
rule, culinary Apples possess but little bright colouring, 
especially when grown in an atmosphere that is more 
often cloudy and smoky than clear ; but Beauty of 
Kent is certainly an exception, and bears so regularly 
and heavy that it might be included in the smallest 
of collections. It grow very satisfactorily, attaining a 
large size, even in gardens north of the Tweed ; but 
the superior quality and size of fruits grown in the 
southern counties are very evident, although in colour 
there is less to be said about the difference, as it is very 
highly developed even in northern latitudes. In shape 
it is roundly ovate or even conical, with a broad base, 
narrowing towards the apex, where it is conspicuously 
ribbed round the deep closed eye. The flesh is firm, 
tender and juicj', with a pleasant and slightly acid 
flavour. In fact, although a culinary Apple, it would 
prove agreeable to the palate of many even if used 
for dessert purposes. It attains great size and beauty 
in America. 
-- 
FERNS: FROM SPORE TO 
TREE. * 
In the Fern we have a chaste unassuming plant, 
claiming attention not on account of any showy floweTS 
or gaudy colours, but their graceful and delicate fronds 
are appreciated by all lovers of plants. Ferns inter¬ 
mixed with flowering plants enhance the appearance of 
the latter, and nowhere will you, perhaps, see this 
better illustrated than in the groups of plants arranged 
for effect at our local shows. The ground-work of 
Maidenhair Ferns which is generally adopted forms a 
splendid setting for the flowering gems. Another very 
striking feature in flowering plants is when they are 
arranged in groups of one kind of plant, with a ground¬ 
work of Adiantums—such, for instance, as Gloxinias, 
Orchids, Amaryllis, Cyclamen, &c. 
The Fern, as you know, produces no flowers, there¬ 
fore, no seeds ; but the means of reproduction in this 
case is from spores. The spores are contained in spore- 
cases called sporangia, and are generally borne on the 
back of the frond. There are some curious stories told 
about Fern spores (or seeds as they were then called). 
While the herbalists were denying the existence of seed 
in Ferns, the popular belief was that they were present. 
It was imagined that they could only be seen on St. 
John’s Night at the hour when the Baptist was born, 
and whoever became possessed of them was thereby 
rendered invisible. In Shakespeare’s Henry IV., 
Gadshill says to the chamberlain, “We steal as in a 
Castle Cocksure, we have the receipt of Fern seed, we 
walk invisible.” “Nay, by my faith,” says the 
chamberlain, “I think you are more beholden to the 
night than to Fern seed for your walking invisible.” 
Again, the Fern seed gathered at the propitious hour 
was thought to possess many magical properties, and 
the supposed possession of it was turned to good ac¬ 
count by pretenders to sorcery. It was believed, too, 
that the gathering of it was not a little hazardous, since 
* Read by Mr. A. Wright at the Ealing Gardeners Mutual Im¬ 
provement Society, November 30th, 1SSS. 
sometimes the collector had a battle with the Enemy of 
mankind, or rather he got a severe drubbing, 
which he could very sensibly feel, but could not see 
from whence it came. 
Let us again turn to the spore cases on the back of 
the frond, and called sporangia. Acluster of sporangia is 
called a sorus. Some of them occur in clusters thickly 
covering the back of the frond, and have a coating 
over them best seen in the young stage, that is, before 
the spores are ripe. This covering is called the indu- 
sium ; but it may in some cases be altogether wanting, 
as in our Polypodiums. In some of the genera we 
have the spores placed along the margin of the fronds, 
and the edges turned back to cover them as in the 
Maidenhair Ferns. In others again, the sori are placed 
alongside the midrib of the frond ; in others they are 
placed in rows across the frond as in our Seolopen- 
drium ; and so on in a great many more different forms 
and shapes. 
The spore cases afford a curious example of mechanical 
arrangement when seen with the aid of the microscope, 
the minute spores being found to be enclosed in a filmy 
bag clasped round by a jointed band exactly resembling 
a lady’s bracelet. This keeps the spores in safety until 
they are perfectly ripe ; then the band contracts and 
the bag either divides in half or splits in pieces, and 
the spores, mere dust-like atoms, are almost invisible 
to the naked eye except in a mass. You will see the 
spores and spore cases under the microscope on the 
table, which will give you a far better idea of their 
form and beauty than words of mine could convey. 
This was one of the most interesting sights I had 
ever seen, the first time I saw it under the microscope. 
I will endeavour to point out, to you in the first 
place, the difference between a true seed and a spore. 
All true seeds have a determinate structure, that is to 
say, they have an embryo provided with special organs. 
There is the ascending axis, the origin of the stem ; 
and there is the descending axis, the origin of the 
root. When a seed has been planted in the ground, 
the young root strikes downwards and the young stem 
grows upwards. Fern spores, on the other hand, have 
none of these determinate parts, but simply consist of 
a cell or vesicle containing protoplasm, and as they 
grow this vesicle becomes divided into others, which 
again multiply and enlarge until they form a small 
scale called the prothallus, and from this in due time 
the plant is developed. As this scale or prothallus 
grows, there are produced on it two separate kinds of 
bodies, namely, the antheridea and the archegonia. 
The antheridea are produced among the little hair-like 
rootlets, which are produced on the under-side of the 
prothallus. The archegonia are placed near the heart- 
shaped notch in the prothallus, so that when the 
antheridea burst there swarms out a great number of 
antherozoids, which are spiral-shaped bodies, having 
a head with a tail twisted up something like a cork¬ 
screw ; the tail is further covered with long hairs or 
cilia, which cause the antherozoids to rotate rapidly, 
and as they travel over the prothallus they come in 
contact with the archegonia, which are flask-shaped 
bodies, and thereby fertilises them. After fertilisation 
has taken place a }'oung plant grows from the fertilised 
cell of the arcliegoniuin. At first the young plant 
receives its nourishment from the prothallus ; but as 
it grows it forms roots of its own, and the prothallus 
having no more functions to perform, dies. 
So ends the first generation of the Fern ; and the 
young plant we saw growing out of the prothallus is 
the second generation. This peculiar form of growth 
is what is termed alternation of generations. It is, 
therefore, while in this first stage of growth, that 
fertilisation takes place. The archegonia and anthero¬ 
zoids are so small that I think it would be impossible 
to hybridise them artificially ; but to obtain that end 
I would recommend the sowing of spores of two or 
more different species of Fern together. I think it 
quite possible for the antherozoides from one prothallus 
to pass to another when they are growing close together, 
and so fertilise the archegonia to which they may have 
travelled. I think the reputed hybrids we have 
amongst Ferns may be accounted for in this way. 
As the young plant grows and produces frond after 
frond, it will be found most interesting and instructive 
work to compare the different forms the frond passes 
through before it finally assumes what I may term 
the normal or adult one. If, for example, we examine 
a young plant of Pteris aquilina (the common Brake), 
we shall find such a difference between the frond 
on the young plant and the frond on the adult 
plant, as scarcely to be recognisable as the same 
species. We find this a common occurrence amongst 
Ferns ; nor is this peculiarity confined to them alone. 
