740 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
July 20, 1889. 
National Carnation and Picotee Society 
(Southern Section). 
The thirteenth annual exhibition of this society will 
be held on Tuesday next, July 23rd, under the auspices 
of the Royal Horticultural Society, in the Drill Hall of 
the London Scottish Volunteers, James Street, "West¬ 
minster. Upwards of a hundred prizes are offered in 
varying amounts, from 40s. downwards. The southern 
flowers were about at their best early this week, but 
better blooms are expected from the midland districts. 
A luncheon will be provided at the Hotel Windsor, 
Victoria Street, at 1.30 p.m., for the judges, members 
of the society, and their friends, at which Dr. Hogg, 
vice-president of the society, has consented to preside. 
The treasurer, Mr. T. E. Henwood, Earley, Reading, 
will be glad to receive all unpaid subscriptions. 
The Carnation and Picotee Union. 
Friends interested will kindly note that the annual 
exhibition will be held, in accordance with a practically 
unanimous vote of the cultivators interested, in my 
garden, on Thursday, August 1st, anticipating the 
former date by five days.—A 1 . S. Dodwell, The Cottage, 
Stanley Road, Oxford, July 15th. 
--- 
TWO GOOD TOWN TREES. 
Undoubtedly the common, or as it is now usually 
designated, the London Plane (Platanus orientalis 
aurifolia) stands first in the category of town trees, 
for not only does it grow vigorously, but it is peculiarly 
well adapted for withstanding the smoke and other 
impurities of a town atmosphere. Repeated experi¬ 
ments have only too clearly pointed out that in 
London at least this tree flourishes better than any 
other, and a visit to the Thames Embankment, and 
several other of the urban districts, but too clearly 
substantiates the statement. 
As not a little diversity of opinion exists as to what 
particular Plane it is that grows with such unabated 
vigour in and around London, it may be stated that a 
careful examination of a large number of specimens 
points to the variety P. o. aurifolia as being not only 
more commonly distributed, but likewise better suited 
for town planting than the typical P. orientalis. 
This valuable variety is readily distinguished from 
the normal plant by the less deeply divided leaves, and 
this again from the American Plane (P. occidentalis), 
with which it is not unfrequently confounded, by the 
many fruit “balls” which are attached to each 
peduncle, the fertile catkins of P. occidentalis being 
for the greater part produced singly. 
But not only for its value as a town tree is the 
Oriental Plane much sought after, for the giant pro¬ 
portions to which it attains, coupled with the 
handsome finely cut leaves and easy habit of growth, 
render it one of our most desirable ornamental trees. 
Then it is of the easiest culture, succeeding as it does 
well in soils of very opposite qualities. In taking 
everything into consideration, we question much 
whether any other of our forest trees is of equal or 
greater value than the Plane for town planting. 
The Ailanthus, or Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus glandu- 
losa), may be seen in a most flourishing and happy 
condition in many of the London streets and byeways. 
By its rich, green, spreading foliage, the Ailanthus 
is, during the summer months, a great favourite with 
lovers of sylvan scenery, the leaves, in many cases, 
reaching to a length of fully 2 ft. It is a tree of very 
rapid growth when suitably placed as regards soil and 
situation, shoots nearly 2 ft. in length being not un- 
frequently produced in a season. 
To the town planter the Ailanto is indeed a boon, 
for it not only suceeds in the most smoky and dusty of 
our city thoroughfares, but the perfect health and 
freshness of foliage renders it at all times, and under 
almost all circumstances, a tree of great beauty and one 
of the most desirable. It has been largely planted in 
many of the continental towns ; indeed, has proved 
itself one of the few trees that are capable of with¬ 
standing the impurities of a town atmosphere. 
The greenish white and rather inconspicuous flowers 
are produced freely enough, these being succeeded by 
innumerable fruits resembling the hips of the Ash, but 
of a reddish brown hue, which imparts to the tree a 
wealth of autumn glory that unfortunately we are too 
seldom permitted to witness.— A. D. Webster. 
FIGS FOR AMATEURS. 
The most satisfactory results are obtained in the culti¬ 
vation of Figs when a house is solely devoted to their 
accommodation. There are three leading systems on 
which they may be grown—namely (1), with fire-heat ; 
(2), without it, but yet under glass ; and (3), in the 
open air, whether as standards or on the open wall. 
Figs can only be grown as standards in the more 
favoured parts of the country, possessed of a mild and 
equable temperature, and if near the sea, the chances 
of a crop are better. Ripe fruit can, however, more 
frequently be obtained when the trees are grown on 
warm south-aspect walls. 
There is more certainty of success, however, in this 
country if the trees are grown under glass, and the 
first crop may be brought to perfection without the aid 
of fire-heat. The principle adopted in Kent when no 
fire-heat is to applied is to be construct a narrow house 
against a south wall, much on the same plan as a Peach 
wall-case. The trees are planted against the back 
wall, to which they are nailed or otherwise fastened. 
During the growing and ripening season the houses are 
kept moderately close, allowing the temperature to run 
up pretty high, while syringing and damping down is 
regularly attended to. As the first crop approaches 
maturity the atmosphere of the house must be kept 
drier and rather more freely ventilated, in order to 
ripen the fruits without causing decay, as they are very 
liable to splitting just before finishing off. The quality 
will also be improved by the drier treatment. Many 
of the fruits of the second crop will never ripen at all 
without the aid of heat, especially in dull and cold 
seasons like that of 1888. 
Amateurs, or those who cannot spare a whole house 
for the cultivation of Figs, may still attempt the 
culture of a few of the hardier and easily-grown kinds 
in houses occupied by other plants that delight in heat 
and moisture. When the fruit is ripening, however, a 
drier condition should be maintained for a time, as far 
as practicable. Brown Turkey, one of the oldest and 
best known varieties, has been found very suitable for 
cultivation under various conditions, and is one of the 
very few to be recommended for outdoor cultivation, 
either as standards or on a wall, and upholds its cha¬ 
racter against any. It may also be used for pot 
culture, and forced if required. The brownish red 
skin is covered with a blue bloom when well ripened, 
and the flesh is red, with a rich and luscious flavour. 
The Brunswick Fig is, perhaps, equally as hardy and 
suitable for outdoor cultivation "as the Brown Turkey, 
but it fruits much less abundantly. The quality, how¬ 
ever, is good, the size large and Pear-shaped as in the 
Brown Turkey, but when ripe is of a 'pale greenish 
yellow, except on the exposed side. White Marseilles 
would also prove highly suitable for open walls or a 
cool house, as it is very hardy, and the fruit ripens 
freely. At the same time, it is one of the most delicious 
Figs grown, and may readily be dried if so required. 
The fruit is round, pale green, ridged longitudinally, 
and rich and sugary when ripe. 
A small-fruited but exceedingly prolific kind is the 
White Ischia, equally suitable for pot culture or planting 
out under glass like a Peach tree. It should be close 
to the glass, and under these conditions a fair-sized 
tree will produce a great quantity of fruit every season. 
The fruit is top-shaped, pale green, and so thin-skinned 
that the purple flesh shines through when ripe. Some 
owners of privatej establishments j are so delighted 
with its highly-flavoured and luscious fruits that they 
prefer it to Brown Turkey or any other, notwithstanding 
its diminutive size. It is not adapted for outdoor 
culture. 
The Black Ischia is also a free bearer, with medium¬ 
sized, deep purple, almost black fruit when mature, and 
is suitable for small collections, either on the open 
wall or in pots under glass. The fruits ripen in 
August in the open air. The fruit is rich, juicy, deep 
red, and luscious. Like alUthe above-mentioned kinds 
it is hampered with a complicated synonymy—an evil 
to which all widely-grown fruits and vegetables are 
subject. If size is greatly desired, combined with good 
quality, Negro Largo should not be omitted from the 
collection. The fruit is Pear-shaped, and attains a 
length of nearly 4 ins. by 2f ins. at the thickest end. 
It is ribbed throughout, and when fully matured 
becomes jet black, while the flesh is pale red, tender, 
juicy, and melting, even to the skin. The variety is 
admirably adapted for pot culture or for forcing, and 
has received the most flattering recommendations from 
private growers for this purpose. Even in small pots, 
if well tended, the quantity of good fruit produced by 
a single plant is quite remarkable, considering its size. 
Angelique is another sort suitable for open air or pot 
culture, and differs from all the foregoing in having a 
medium-sized rather flattened fruit, fading to yellow 
when mature, and variegated with white stripes. It 
has an agreeable odour when ripened, with a white flesh 
slightly tinted with rose. 
-—- 
REGAL AND DECORATIVE 
PELARGONIUMS. 
What a pity it is that these fine flowers should be so 
perishable in the cut state ; for in this respect they 
resemble Poppies in their ephemeral and evanescent 
nature. A Yorkshire correspondent sent us a boxful 
of blooms the other day, but by the time they reached 
us the greater number of the petals had dropped. The 
most of them had very large flowers, as Pelargoniums 
are now reckoned, and the colours of the darker kinds 
were so brilliant as to have a dazzling effect on the 
eyes as they lay on the table. 
Foremost among the dark kinds must be placed Fire 
King, with the lower petals of an intense red, while 
the upper ones are heavily veined and shaded with 
maroon - crimson. Dr. Masters is smaller, but there 
is a black blotch on all of the petals. Beauty of 
Bicton is maroon-crimson, with a rose and white 
centre. A fiery scarlet is Edward Perkins, while 
Scarlet Gem is paler with a rose centre ; and Queen 
Victoria is somewhat smaller, with darker blotches 
on the upper petals, but a fine flower notwithstanding. 
Purple Emperor exhibits a mixture of interblending 
carmine-red, rose, purple, crimson, and black. The 
above seven are of the regal type, with variously- 
undulated or wavy petals. 
Amongst the dark-coloured varieties with smoother 
petals was Mandarin, which has crimson-scarlet petals, 
the upper ones being conspicuously blotched with 
blackish crimson. A brilliant little flower is Madame 
Gewitzki, with intense scarlet flowers and small blackish 
blotches on the upper petals. Mesmeris Improved has 
carmine-red flowers, with large black blotches, and 
Ambassador is larger and paler. Several light- 
coloured kinds were very pleasing, including Hamlet et 
Ophelie, soft lilac, with crimson blotches ; Premier, 
rose and crimson blotches ; La Vesuve, carmine, with 
rose centre; and Madame Thibaut, a free-flowering 
and useful regal kind. Kingston Beauty is a well- 
known show variety, with white flowers and purple 
blotches ; Mary Cooke, purer white, with pale blotches 
and wavy petals ; Venus, white, with rose blotches ; 
and Denise is like a white Madame Thibaut. The 
best twelve were Fire King, Dr. Masters, Queen Victoria, 
Scarlet Gem, Edward Perkins, Mandarin, Hamlet et 
Ophelie, Mary Cooke, Kingston Beauty, Denise, 
Madame Thibaut, and Premier. 
-•*$<-- 
RHODODENDRONS. 
It is unfortunately too true that one of the grandest 
flowers grown is greatly neglected in many places, and 
allowed to struggle on without aid or cultivation of 
any kind, except when they may grow in the way of a 
path, and a pruning hook is called into requisition to 
cut back some of the branches in order to clear the 
way. Too often trees and shrubs are seen which are 
neglected, and no blame can be attached to the 
gardener in charge of them. Maybe duties have been 
accumulating, and it is a fact that labour power is 
decreasing all round. One need not, therefore, wonder 
why so many shrubs, Conifers, and other ornamental 
trees are left to take care of themselves and make 
shelter for game, which is seldom neglected if every¬ 
thing else goes. "Whatever is good and grand may go, 
but the animals reared to be killed, or maybe to suffer 
torture from the sportsman’s gun, must have gentle 
care, and the labourer has to remove to distant parts 
in search of work in order that food for his little ones 
may be found. But these facts are too unpleasant to 
dwell upon. 
What is necessary for the raising of good Rhodo¬ 
dendrons is rich soil (half loam and half peat answers 
well), and if a liberal mulching of well-rotted manure 
be given occasionally fine growth and an abundance of 
flowers may be expected. The mulching attracts the 
roots upwards, where the action of air and sun matures 
them, while they cannot suffer from drought. Flower- 
buds are thus formed, and these being supported by 
luxuriant foliage, the best results follow. We know 
that in some nurseries the starvation system goes on, 
and the proprietors of them state that prices are so low, 
and labour so expensive, that they cannot afford to 
enrich and mulch their land. It is advisable at this 
season (if not done already) to remove all decaying 
stems or seed-pods of the flowers which have recently 
faded, as then the wood growth has full scope to form 
flowers for next season’s display of inflorescence.— 
Stirling. 
