February 6, 1892. 
THl-GARDENING WORLD 
359 
estate purposes only, and which are annually dis¬ 
tributed gratuitously to the farm and cottage 
tenantry. What, therefore, Mr. Crump had to say 
was based upon personal experience extending over 
a period of ten years. No attempt has been made 
to raise new varieties, Mr. Crump deeming that this 
is a business best left in the hands of skilful experts, 
and while admitting that such fine varieties as the 
Blenheim Orange and Ribston Pippin originated as 
chance seedlings, yet it is a fact that ninety-nine 
per cent, of such seedlings produce fruit altogether 
inferior to well-known kinds. Mr. Crump states one 
important fact as bearing upon the raising of seed¬ 
ling Apples which has come under his notice, that 
the higher bred the cross may be so much the more 
delicate constitution of the progeny becomes, being 
generally miffy growers and highly susceptible of 
mildew attacks. 
“ The stock,” remarks Mr. Crump, “ is the fun¬ 
damental part of a good tree, as upon this depends 
its longevity and future prosperity," and he lays down 
this proposition: that a stock without fibrous rootscan- 
not produce a fruitful tree, therefore the preparation 
of the stocks with fibrous roots is of great importance. 
At Madresfield Court free Crab seedlings are used as 
stocks, raised from well-ripened Pippins of some 
high-coloured fruit, such as the best cider is manu¬ 
factured from. The natural inclination of these 
seedlings is to strike roots straight downwards, hav¬ 
ing a leading tap root at the end of the first or second 
season. At the fall of the leaf the plant is carefully 
lifted, the tap root preserved entire, replanted at full 
length but in a horizontal position near the surface, 
the root being young and pliable- will easily bend. 
Replanted early in the season, an abundance of 
young, healthy, fibrous roots will be put forth the 
entire length of the tap root, and so there is secured 
the most desirable foundation for a future tree. 
Great importance is attached to the multiplication 
of fibrous roots to the stocks before budding opera¬ 
tions are performed ; the result is seen in the fact 
that a dormant bud of one season will produce a 
firm, straight shoot, 4 ft. to 5 ft. of Apple in one 
season. But this is slightly anticipating matters. 
Previous to budding, the stocks, after one or two 
years' interval from the first transplantation—such of 
them of course as are healthy and clean—are again 
transplanted to rows, 2 ft. 6 in. apart; and the stocks 
18 in. from plant to plant. They all budded the 
following August. These frequent transplantings add 
of course to the cost of production, but there is a very 
great gain to the tree. 
Stocks are also raised by means of root cuttings, 
that is “ pieces of Crab stock roots, half an inch or so 
in diameter, and cut into pieces 3 in. or 4 in. in 
length,” are planted shallow in firm soil, and when 
they have put forth growths and roots, transplanted 
in the same way; and Mr. Crump makes this impor¬ 
tant statement—that bush, pyramid, or half stan¬ 
dard trees, grown on stocks, thus prepared, seldom 
require any root pruning in after years. Therefore the 
labour of preparation of stock is not thrown away, 
but becomes practically of increased value when 
planted in the gardens of those not experienced in 
Apple tree culture ; and such trees, when planted on 
suitable and well cultivated soil, give the greatest 
quantity of fruit in the shortest space of time as 
well as of fine quality ; they can be maintained in 
health for the longest period, they require but little 
pruning of any sort, so that the least experienced 
can manage them. Moreover Mr. Crump asserts 
that nearly every variety of Apple tree upon them 
succeeds. 
But I will return to this subject again, as there is 
something both novel and instructive in the practice 
laid down by Mr. Crump.— R. D. 
-■*$«-- 
Helleborus Atrorubens. —The flowers of this species 
are distinct and showy when contrasted with the 
true Christmas Rose (H-. niger), and expanding as 
they do thus early in the year they remain in 
perfection for a much longer time than those which 
bloom in March, or towards the end of that month ; 
because the longer days, higher temperature and 
bright sunshine occurring then, or soon after is 
unfavourable to the longevity of the flowers, which 
lose their colour and become green. At present 
the two outer sepals of H. atrorubens are pale 
purple, and the three inner ones are of a deep purple 
contrasting with the creamy yellow stemens. A plant 
has been flowering for some time past on the rockery 
in the gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society 
Ett Chiswick. . ' " • 
AiJ 
(Gardening Miscellany. 
PRIMULA SINENSIS RUBRA. 
Such is the name of a bright, rosy-red variety of the 
Chinese Primula which is now flowering freely and 
in great quantity in the nursery of Messrs J. Laing 
& Sons, Forest Hill. The colour is not particularly 
popular at present for various reasons, chief amongst 
which is that it is common, and fails to attract the 
multitude. Groups of it here and there in a conser¬ 
vatory would be much more effective than the usual 
method of arranging, or-rather of scattering, the 
plants about here and there in an incongruous mixture 
amongst other subjects of a totally diverse character. 
The flowers of the extensive batch under notice are 
of large size,.giving the whole a bold and conspicuous 
appearance. On the opposite side of the house are 
smaller batches of P. s. alba with pure flowers and 
broad imbricated segments, and also the blue variety 
with good-sized flowers borne in large trusses. 
WORMS IN PLANT POTS. 
I often wonder how many of your readers have 
tried ‘‘Porter's Patent Invincible Crocks ” for plant 
pots. Last year I called attention to them, and now, 
after another year's experience, will you permit me 
to do so again. I find them all that can be desired 
for the purpose. They are simplicity itself, but 
thoroughly effective, and so cheap that they are 
within the reach of all plant growers ; they are made 
of brass, consequently are rust proof and last for 
many years. To my knowledge they are being used 
by some of the leading gardeners in the country, and 
giving the greatest satisfaction. With one of these 
Crocks in the pots, a plant may be stood anywhere, 
and be perfectly safe, so that the trouble of placing 
slates, tiles, laths or ashes under the pots is entirely 
done away with. To the Chrysanthemum grower 
they will prove a real treasure. I consider them one 
of the most useful articles ever offered to plant 
growers.—A'. 
H/EMANTH US MAGNIF1CUS. 
In general appearance this species has much the 
same appearance as H. natalensis, and is indeed one 
of four species belonging so the same group as the 
latter. The flower scape is produced in advance of 
the leaves, and springs from the axils of the bulb 
scales, not from amongst the tuft of leaves. All the 
lower portion is closely spotted with purple, and the 
apex carries a globose, dense head of flowers which 
are small individually, but collectively very showy 
The segments of the perianth are pale almost white 
in the early stages, but ultimately become of a 
bright scarlet although not dark ; the filaments and 
styles are however bright scarlet and conspicuous in 
the early stages. The golden anthers contrast very 
boldly with the other parts of the flower, at least in 
the newly expanded state. It is one of the more 
popular species, and there are several distinct 
varieties of it in cultivation. The species is a native; 
of South Africa, and may be seen in the stove at 
Kew. 
CROCUS IMPERATI. 
The mild weather which has prevailed for some 
time past has enabled the v’inter-flowering species of 
Crocus in the open ground to put in an appearance 
even during the past month, and should it continue 
favourable several of the early spring-flowering kinds 
will come on early. C. Imperati is not a brilliant 
species, especially when the flowers remain closed in 
dull weather. It is, however, notable for the peculiar 
arrangement of the colours. The outer surface of 
the three external segments are of a peculiar greyish 
yellow', with three slightly feathered nerves, while 
their inner face is purple. The inner segments, on 
the contrary, are lilac, and beautifully veined with a 
darker hue. The yellow anthers and orange-scarlet 
stigmas contrast beautifully with the rest of the 
flowers when fully expanded under the influence of 
sunshine. Some clumps of it are flowering on the 
rockery in the gardens of the Royal Horticultural 
Society at Chiswick. 
ECHINOCACTUS CONCINNUS. 
The species of Echinocactus are generally notable 
for the long, rigid and formidable-looking spines 
which cover the short and generally globular stems, 
in tufts, E. concinnus differs considerably in this 
respect. The stems develop numerous fleshy pro¬ 
tuberances, closely arranged in rows, following the 
longer way of the stems. These elevations are of 
peculiar form, inasmuch as they are so deeply in¬ 
dented or bifid as to appear double. The spines, or 
rather bristles, in this particular case arise in the 
notch between the two halves of the protuberances, 
and are not developed till that part of the plant bear¬ 
ing them attains some age. For this reason the 
upper and younger portion of the plant is without 
bristles, while the low : er part of the stem is furnished 
with them. This peculiar species may be seen in 
the nursery of Messrs. J. Carter & Co., Forest Hill. 
COTYLEDON RETUSA. 
Comparatively few of the succulents are useful for 
winter flowering. That under notice is a very 
meritorious one for the purpose, and Epiphyllums 
and Kalanchoe carnea, with other species, may be 
added to-the list. Cotyledon retusa is better known 
amongst gardeners under the name of Echeveria 
retusa. It lasts a long time in season, but by means 
of small batches of plants of different ages, that is, 
struck from cuttings at different times and kept 
tolerably cool until such times as they are required, 
it may be had in bloom from November or December 
till spring. The habit of the plant is compact and 
all that can be desired in the way of neatness. Old 
plants get somewhat leggy, but there is no necessity 
for growing the plant more than one or two years ; 
in fact it m^y to great advantage be raised afresh 
from cuttings annually, and give more satisfaction 
in the way of flowers than old plants could. The 
glaucous leaves then form a rosette lying close to 
the pot while the flower stems attain a height of 
about 12 in., and are closely furnished with large, 
fleshy, leaf-like bracts. The flowers are yellowish, 
and ultimately of a bright orange red in the lower 
half of the petals. 
SAXIFRAGA SARMENTOSA TRICOLOR 
SUPERBA. 
Could this beautiful and interesting variety be in¬ 
duced to grow as freely as the ordinary form, 
it would undoubtedly soon get popular. The reni- 
form or orbicular leaves are of a rich dark green 
in the centre, with a broad creamy-white margin 
constituting as a rule more than half the entire 
surface. The extreme edges are more or less tinted 
with a bright red, and in the summer time this is 
more extensive than at present. Of course the pLant 
is always more highly coloured and ornamental when 
making its growth than when resting. The young 
leaves are often wholly of a bright red, except a 
small portion in the centre which retains the original 
and natural hue. Now cultivators of the variety 
find that it succeeds best in stove temperature, a 
peculiar fact when we bear in mind that the typical 
green plant is hardy, or almost so, when planted in 
suitable positions on a rockery in the milder parts of 
this country. As a window plant it can boast bqth 
of antiquity and popularity, and intending cultivators 
would be highly indebted to any one who, by a 
series of experiments, could find out a satisfactory 
method of cultivating it, and which could be 
practised by any one with the accommodation of a 
greenhouse, frame, or window. 
FLOWERS OF TAN. 
The above is the popular name of a fungus which 
is occasionally troublesome in propagating pits where 
tan is used for making the beds. Mycologists name 
jt Caetalium septicum. It lives on the decaying Oak 
bark, but at certain stages of its existence it leaves 
the tan and travels all over the bed in the form ofi a 
slimy mass, which gets entangled amongst the cut¬ 
tings which may be placed there to root, or covers 
the pots containing the seeds or seedlings, much to 
the disadvantage of the latter. Sometimes when 
moving in this slimy mass it will curiously enough 
crawl up the labels in the pots and there come to rest 
before changing into the sporiferous state. Its ap¬ 
pearance is sometimes very sudden, and where plenti¬ 
ful will cover up and thereby injure many things in 
a single night. Those who are familiar with it know 
when it is about to make its appearance by some 
filaments appearing above the tan and by the slight 
elevation of the latter, like soil that is swollen and 
elevated by frost. A French horticulturist describes 
his experience of it in A/males dc la Society d'Agricul¬ 
ture de France, and says that when the tan begins to 
rise by the action of the fungus, he dusts the surface 
