March 23, 1889. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
467 
Mr. W. G. Smith recorded and figured in The 
Gardening World for March 20th, 1886 (p. 457), a 
very similar occurrence at Dunstable, due on that 
occasion to frost, fog, and wind combined. The ice 
forms sheets as thin as paper, about' 2 ins. wide, and 
attached to the leeward sides of the boughs, but at 
intervals only to the wood, thus forming a series of 
arches. He attributed this fact to the warmer temper¬ 
ature of the living shoots, which melted the ice 
throughout the greater part. These blades of ice were 
about 2 ft. long. Any little extra wind caused a stir 
among the branches like the sound of breaking glass. 
For several days previously the frost had been very 
severe, the hills at the same time being continuously 
hidden by wet fog, which was driven gently along by a 
biting wind from the north-east. 
-~>X<-- 
CROCUSES AT TOOTING. 
Notwithstanding the fact that there are some seventy 
species of Crocuses known to science, and that the 
greater proportion of these are now in cultivation at a 
few places, the great majority of gardens can only boast 
of two or three kinds, such as C. vernus, in endless 
variety, C. aureus, in the large form known as Dutch 
Yellow, and perhaps Cloth of Gold (C. susianus). 
With the exception of one or two private places perhaps, 
the collection of Messrs. Barr & Son, at Lower Tooting, 
is the most extensive in the country. A collection is 
grown in frames, but the greater bulk of them are 
grown fully exposed in the open ground, and a fine 
appearance they present when the sun is shining. 
The garden varieties of C. vernus are not grown, for 
the reason probably that they are left to the Dutch 
florists. The interest attaching to the collection is 
therefore immensely increased. All are pretty, there 
being no weeds in the genus. C. vernus leucostigma is 
blue with a white stigma ; C. v. leucorhynehus is a 
striking kind, having a deep blue zone beneath a 
white tip ; and C. v. George Maw is white, with 
a yellow blotch at the tip. Other blue or lilac 
kinds are C. bannaticus, with a darker blotch 
below the apex ; C. carpetanus, lilac ; C. c. 
lavandulacea, lavender; C. Sieberi, lilac-blue ; and C. S. 
versicolor, a rare white variety, with purple band 
externally. A large, pale lilac-blue species is C. 
Thomasinianus, grown in quantity. Several species, of 
which C. Imperati may be taken as the type, are 
characterised by their pale lilac or blue, but extremely 
variable colours, with a broad, brownish grey band 
externally, often beautifully feathered with purple 
veins. C. etruscus, C. reticulatus, C. suaveolens, and 
C. versicolor may be included in this group. The last- 
named is a large-flowered and very beautiful hardy 
Crocus, for which light-coloured and striped varieties 
of C. vernus are often substituted for forcing purposes. 
The prettiest of the varieties, we consider, are C. versi¬ 
color striatus, richly feathered dark purple ; and C. v. 
picturatus, feathered with purple on a white ground. 
C. biflorus, striped purple on a white ground, is a small, 
but elegant and very floriferous species, of which Cloth 
of Silver or Scotch Crocus is a variety. Its varieties, 
C. b. Weldeni, freckled with pale purple, and C. b. W. 
alba, are very distinct and pretty. The latter should 
probably be distinguished as C. b. Pestalozzoe. A rare 
species is C. Malyi, white, with purple stripes ex- 
. ternally. 
The yellow kinds are both numerous, varied, and 
striking on account of their conspicuous, often brilliant 
shades of colour. They are wonderfully hardy, and 
merit a very much more extended cultivation. The 
commonest no doubt is the Dutch Yellow, a variety of 
j C. aureus, and found in some old books under the 
name of C. luteus. C. aureus itself is a pure golden 
yellow, and other varieties are C. a. sulphureus, C. a. 
sulphureus striatus, and C. a. fusco-tinctus, whose 
names indicate the colour. Added to this is C. stellaris, 
the native country of which is unknown. It is golden 
yellow beautifully lined with deep brownish purple 
externally, and when the sun shines the segments 
spread out in a star-like manner. C. Olivieri, although 
a small-flowered species, is deep golden yellow and 
very floriferous. It is grown in quantity and increases 
rapidly. The beds in the open were planted a little 
over a year ago, so that the corms are flowering for the 
second time since put in the ground. We counted from 
five to eleven flowers from a single clump, representing 
single corms last year, so that many flowers arise from 
: each. For horticultural purposes C. chrysanthus is 
similar to the last, but it gives rise to several very distinct 
varieties, such as C. c. pallidus, C. c. fusco-tinctus and 
others. C. Cambessedesii, C. alatavicus, and C. Balansae 
may be added to the list. The last named is a beau¬ 
tiful kind in its best forms, which are richly feathered 
with brown on a golden yellow ground ; others are 
banded or tinted with these colours. An albino of C. 
alatavicus is white with a yellow throat. 
-- 
ORCHIDS AT UPPER HOL- 
loway. 
As the days lengthen, flowers get more plentiful, but 
in no family of plants do we find greater variety than 
amongst Orchids in spring. Calanthes, Dendrobiums, 
Odontoglossums, Cypripediums and Cattleyas were 
most plentiful on the occasion of a visit to the Victoria 
and Paradise Nurseries, Upper Holloway, where Mr. 
B. S. Williams gives considerable attention to Orchids. 
Near the door of one house was a bank of various 
subjects in flower, including a number of Calanthes. 
C. Williamsii has a deep purple lip with paler petals, 
while C. Stevensi was white, with the column and the 
base of the lip of a rosy colour. C. Regnieri Fausta is 
much darker in the colour of the same parts ; C. bella 
is rosy pink with a dark eye, and C. nivalis of a pure 
snowy white. Many Dendrobiums in flower are 
scattered about in different houses, including such 
showy kinds as D. Ainsworthii, D. A. roseum, D. 
Leechianum, notable for the great size of its flowers 
compared with D. Ainsworthii; also the beautiful D. 
Linawianum, with curiously flattened and jointed 
pseudo-bulbs. The pretty Australian D. bigibbum is 
also flowering. Suspended from the roof of a house is 
a splendid bit of D. nobile nobilius, quite equal to that 
figured in the Orchid Album. The flowers are of great 
size, and the sepals and petals of a rich purple, with a 
very intense crimson-purple blotch on the throat of the 
lip. 
Amongst the Odontoglossums in flower are some fine 
pieces of 0. sceptrum, showing consi lerable variation 
in the depth of colouring, and the toothing of the 
petals. The lip is also fairly fringed. Not very 
plentiful are 0 mirandum and 0. cristata, both 
marked with dark brown on a yellow ground. The 
crest of the latter is very marked and distinct, with 
radiating finger-like segments. Amongst the Cattleyas 
are some fine varieties of C. Trianre, one of which 
resembles C. T. splendidissima in c flour. C. Skinneri 
is now rapidly pushing up its sheaths, while other 
species, as well as the Ltelias, are in excellent healthy 
condition and will soon be in flower ; L. cinnabarina 
harpophylla is, however, in bloom. Closely allied to 
the Laflias is Brassavola glauca, occasionally met with 
in gardens, but here in bloom. The flower is white 
and similar to that of B. Digbyana, but not fringed at 
the edges. 
A large number of Cypripediums are in flower, but 
we noted only a few of them, including C. insigne 
Maulei, C. Argus, C. barbatum Crossii (Warnerianum), 
C. Haynaldiannm, an improvement upon C. Lowii, also 
C. vernixium, C. Meirax, and the curious but beautiful 
C. hirsutissimum. A good variety is C. Sallieri aurea, 
with a soft brownish yellow ground colour. It is very 
pleasing. The largest of all we noted was C. Charles 
Canham, the petals of which are of great size, drooping, 
and soft rose, spotted with purple. The pouch is also 
of enormous size. Ccelogyne cristata and its varieties, 
C. c. alba and C. Lemoniana, are flowering freely. 
Lycastes are represented by L. plana, L. Skinneri alba, 
pure white, and L. gigantea, a curious kind, with 
large flowers and a reddish brown fringed lip. Cym- 
bidium eburneum is also in season, and presents some 
variety with regard to the presence of purple spots on 
the lip and a large yellow blotch. This species is very 
fragrant. A grand piece of C. Lowianum has six 
spikes, each bearing from twenty to twenty-seven 
flower-buds, which will expand shortly. A strong 
contrast to other kinds is furnished by the orange- 
scarlet flowers of Ada aurantiaca. Phaius maculatus, 
with its yellow sepals and petals and crumpled orange 
lip, as well as yellow-blotched foliage, is one of the 
most distinct species we have. A graceful plant is 
Dendrochilum glumaceum, bearing a couple of dozen 
spikes of fragrant white flowers. 
There is also a considerable sprinkling of the finer 
Oncidiums in flower or rapidly pushing up. The 
spikes of O. sarcodes are already about 2| ft. to 3| ft. in 
length. A well-flowered bit of 0. Forbesii showed off 
its deep chocolate-brown and yellow markings to great 
advantage. The little known 0. splendidum bore 
flower-stems about 3 ft. in height. The flowers them¬ 
selves resemble those of 0. tigrinum in colour and size, 
but in structure they differ as well, markedly so in the 
great rigid leaves. A specimen of Phalrenopsis 
Sanderiana was flowering under rather cool treatment, 
and had good foliage. 
otes . from Scotland. 
North of Scotland Root, Fruit, and 
Vegetable Association. —This flourishing asso¬ 
ciation, which holds its exhibitions in Inverurie, N. B., 
has already issued its prize schedule for the show 
proposed to be held under its auspices in November 
next. In the sections for garden produce pieces of 
plate are offered for the various exhibits. Several 
additions have been made to the prize money, and even 
at this early period there is shown an unusual amount 
of preparation and enthusiasm, which augur well for 
the success of the show. The prize list includes a 
couple of handsome silver hot-water kettles, for the best 
lots of Swedes aud Yellow Turnips. The kettles must 
be taken three times, but one exhibitor is not allowed to 
take both. For Field Potatos a piece of plate is 
offered for the best lot in certain classes. Among those 
from a distance offering prizes are Messrs. Sutton & 
Sons, Reading. There are to be three more classes this 
year than last, and judging from the schedule, the 
show of 1889 promises, with a favourable season, to be 
one of the best held in recent years. The secretary, 
Mr. William Maitland, is indefatigable in his efforts 
to that end, and it is to be hoped he will succeed. 
“ Ringing” Fruit Trees. —Though the practice 
of mutilating the bark of fruit trees is not to be 
encouraged, we know of many cases where ringing—and 
severely, too—has been attended by results which set 
apparently barren trees into fruiting, and they con¬ 
tinued so most satisfactorily. We have had similar 
experience to that of an Irish clergyman, who told us 
that he had a large number of vigorous and healthy 
young trees badly barked by sheep which had been 
allowed inadvertently to wander iuto his orchard. 
Their coarse unfruitful growth ceased, fruit buds 
forming instead, and fine crops were annually gathered. 
When forming a new park and garden in Worcester¬ 
shire, we found among a large quantity of shrubs which 
had been roughly heeled in, bundles of young fruit 
trees, which had been planted, lifted, pushed into the 
soil in these bundles, and left. We lifted them out, 
cutting off all suckers, dead wood, and cankered bark 
which had been caused by sheep eating the bark off the 
stems. They were carefully planted, mulched, and 
firmly staked, the result being healthy growth and an 
abundance of excellent fruit. — M. T. 
Tobacco Culture in Aberdeenshire.— 
Among the many experiments conducted during the 
past ten years by Mr. Thomas Jamieson, lecturer on 
agriculture in Aberdeen University, there has to be 
included that of Tobacco culture. Professor Jamieson, 
from the results he has obtained, has practically proved 
that the soil of Aberdeenshire can produce Tobacco of 
a quality which, when manufactured, meets with the 
appreciation of smokers. The experiments were carried 
out on the experimental farm of Glasterberry, near 
Aberdeen, under the auspices of the Aberdeenshire 
Agricultural Research Association, and from the results 
Professor Jamieson concludes that Tobacco might be 
grown, ripened, and cured in this country, and that 
with the skill that comes by experience even the finer 
varieties might be successfully made. The plants were 
grown upon an experimental plot, and on a larger scale 
in the field ; they were late in being planted, yet the 
produce is described as heavy, aud though not thoroughly 
matured, it was manufactured into three forms of 
Tobacco, and to quote Mr. Jamieson’s report, “smoked 
with appreciation.” It is rather to be regretted, 
however, that the experiments have had to be aban¬ 
doned owing to the trouble and inconvenience entailed 
on the grower and the Inland Revenue officers by the 
frequent inspection of the crop.— Cor. 
Manure and Fruit Trees.— Now that fruit tree 
planting is drawing to a close for the season we state that 
it is a great failing to suppose that fruit trees of any 
kind, except it may be Currants and Gooseberries,require 
manure at planting time mixed in the soil for the roots. 
If the soil requires enriching, and is too poor for raising 
fine healthy trees, it is much better to remove a goodly 
portion, and replace it with fine loam if such can be had, 
and manure may be applied as a mulching by placing a 
portion over the roots (not next them), making it firm by 
the use of a fork. A coating of soil placed over all keeps 
in the virtue of the manure, and renders the surface 
presentable to the eye, which is something in a well- 
appointed garden. The manure placed above the roots, 
instead of amongst them mixed in the soil and below 
them, induces upward growth of the feeders, and acts 
as a preventative of grossness, and by their being drawn 
within range of the action of solar heat the fruiting 
proclivities°of the trees are increased. — J/. T. 
