90 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
October 12, 1895. 
The Tower Nursery. 
This is largely devoted to herbaceous plants and 
bedding. This nursery being close by Mr. Bunyard's 
residence, has given an excuse for laying out a 
portion of it as a flower garden, while the rest is kept 
gay with popular and showy hardy flowers. 
Some beds were very gay with seedling Verbenas, all 
very floriferous and attractive. The light and dark 
blue kinds were particularly handsome. Here also is 
a collection of Sunflowers, including the large and 
conspicuous Miss Mellish, also Rudbeckia nitida, a 
collection of the best of the perennial Asters as 
determined by the trials at Chiswick, and the showy 
autumn-flowering Japanese Anemones. 
A large greenhouse is occupied with various useful 
plants including several species and forms of 
Asparagus, one being the ubiquitous and universally - 
cultivated A. plumosus. Pretty and curious is that 
named A. retroflexus arboreus which bears its long 
slender leaves, or more properly speaking needle-like 
twiglets, in tufts at the ends of the slender branches. 
Another deserving mention is A. pitcherianus, closely 
related to A. plumosus but more slender, graceful 
and darker green. It is very useful in the making of 
shower bouquets on account of its light and elegant 
character. 
- — -- 
A PLUM TREE BEARING APPLES. 
When down in Lincoln last week, Mr. J. Bently > 
fruiterer, was telling me of a strange freak of nature. 
A friend of his, named Mr. Carter, a market gar¬ 
dener, living in the village of Welton, about six-and- 
a-half miles north-east of Lincoln, has an Orleans 
Plum tree trained on the end of his house, and on 
one of the topmost branches there are two or three 
fine Apples. I rather made light of it when he told 
me, but he declared that it was quite true, as he and 
some friends drove out to see and examine it, and 
they were quite convinced of its genuineness. 
The only way in which it can be accounted for is 
that during a storm, when the tree w T as in blossom, 
one of the branches was torn off the wall by the 
force of the wind, and thrown across an Apple tree, 
which was also in blossom at the time. It has not 
been inarched nor grafted at any time. The tree 
has been on the wall for many years, and it has 
never borne Apples before this season. Can any of 
your readers say whether they at any time have had 
a like experience ?— J. McKelvie, Leadenliall Gardens, 
Lincoln. 
-- 
ORCHID NOTES & GLEANINGS, 
By The Editor. 
Cochlioda noezliana.—Though not a bulky 
Orchid this is a very pretty one, with drooping 
racemes of orange-scarlet flowers, that are slightly 
diversified with a golden-yellow blotch on the base 
of the lip and a violet-purple column. The species 
was introduced from the Peruvian Andes by Messrs. 
Linden of Brussels, through Mr. John Noezli whose 
name it commemorates. It is therefore a cool 
Orchid requiring treatment similar to that accorded 
the Odontoglossums coming from high altitudes. In 
habit of growth it resembles the better-known 
C. vulcanica, but the flowers are brighter in their 
particular shade of colour. It succeeds best when 
grown in baskets well drained and filled with a 
compost of peat and sphagnum. Orchid Album, PI. 
5°9- 
Oncidium spilopterum —This pretty Brazilian 
species is closely allied to the well-known O. 
varicosum, but, although it was originally introduced 
many years ago, it is not particularly common in 
collections of Orchids. The figure of it in the 
Orchid Album, PI. 51c, was prepared from a plant 
which flowered with Mr. Clark, gardener to Ludwig 
Mond, Esq., The Poplars, Avenue Road, Regent's 
Park. The flowers are produced in erect racemes, 
about 15 in. high, from the base of the mature bulb. 
The sepals and petals are moderate in size and 
brownish-purple on the inner face. The lip is of a 
beautiful pale yellow with a rosy-purple crest 
furnished with spiny-looking teeth tipped with 
purple, and is the most conspicuous organ of the 
flower. Mr. Clark says that the species succeeds 
well when grown in a compost of peat and sphagnum 
with a liberal admixture of charcoal, and suspended 
in a pan near the glass in the intermediate house. 
It should be shaded from bright sunshine and dees 
not require a long resting period. 
Maxillaria nigrescens. — The flowers are not 
exactly black as the name would seem to imply, 
though the relatively small lip may be described as 
blackish-purple with a reflexed yellow apex. The 
name was first applied by Lindley, who should there¬ 
fore have the right of priority accorded him; but 
that applied by Klotsch, who called it M. rubro- 
fusca, would best describe the colour, namely, reddish- 
brown. In the case of living plants, the flowers are 
described as of a port-wine colour, and the petals are 
darker at the base. All of them fade to a dull 
golden-yellow towards the apex. The flowers are of 
considerable size (5 in. across) for this genus and 
produced singly in great profusion from the base of 
the pseudo-bulbs. The species flowered in the 
Victoria and Paradise Nurseries during the months 
of October and November last year. It is a native 
of New Grenada, and should be grown in a cool 
house, shaded from the direct rays of the sun, but 
close to the glass. 
Oncidium ornithorhynchum albiflorum.—A 
beautifully executed illustration of the variety is 
given in the Orchid Album, PI. 512. It shows only 
two panicles of bloom, because otherwise the 
individual character of the flowers would have been 
lost by the intermingling of the myriads of blossom 
which a large plant produces. The flowers are small 
individually, but extremely graceful in the mass and 
white with a yellow crest. The typical rose-coloured 
form is well known throughout the country, and an 
even greater measure of popularity will attach to 
that under notice when it becomes better known. 
Many cultivators have, however, already made its 
acquaintance. It is of the easiest cultivation in pots 
in a cool house. 
-=* 5 «- 
THE KITCHEN BURDEN. 
Sprouts, Savoys, &c.— As winter approaches it is 
usual for vegetables of the Brassica tribe to lose 
many of their lower leaves, more especially Sprouts 
and Savoys, through decay, and if left to themselves, 
besides looking very untidy, they soon raise a very 
offensive odour. They should be cleared away when¬ 
ever signs of turning yellow takes place, without 
delay, to the rubbish heap as they serve no good 
purpose when left on the plants, but on the other 
hand form a harbour for caterpillars which are very 
numerous this season. It will also be advisable to 
frequently examine the plants and hand-pick any that 
are infested with vermin. 
Cauliflowers will now require to be carefully 
watched, and the blades tied over the curd to prevent 
frost damaging them. This will also ward off heavy 
rain, and, in fact, all sorts of weather, this being one 
of the few vegetables which are not benefited 
by exposure. Where the old practice of keeping 
Cauliflower plants throughout the winter to secure 
an early crop is still kept up, no time should be lost 
in transplanting the seedlings into frames. A cold 
frame, and where about six inches of a rough com¬ 
post, consisting ofjurfy loam and half-decayed leaves, 
can be had, will suit them well, and will lift with 
good balls of soil adhering to them when transplant¬ 
ing takes place—a point of the utmost importance, 
and should never be lost sight of. Transplant in the 
frame about six inches apart each way, and water 
well to settle the soil about the roots. The sashes 
are better left off on all favourable occasions, for 
the hardier the plants are kept the better they will 
withstand the winter, when they have to contend 
with frost and fog. 
Lettuces will now be better protected by a frame, 
and a considerable quantity should, as soon as pos¬ 
sible, be transplanted therein, so as to prolong the 
salading season. Similar conditions as recommended 
for Cauliflowers will suit them well. A quantity 
should also be transplanted in an open border with 
a view to secure an early crop ; also at the bottom 
of a wall, so that, those on other exposures failing, 
they may be saved. Endive should be blanched as 
required, by placing an inverted flower-pot over the 
heads to exclude the light. 
Parsley. This crop will now be benefited by 
picking off all the old blades so as to encourage 
young growth before winter, and if not too thick 
will stand much better. 
Cabbages recently planted are making rapid 
growth, and if in an exposed position will be bene¬ 
fited by a slight earthing up, which will prevent 
the winds from blowing them about too much. 
Whenever dry enough, continue hoeing between 
such crops as Spinach, Turnips, Cabbages, Parsley, 
and, in fact, all growing crops. Leeks for winter 
supply should have a thorough scaking of liquid 
manure and be earthed up for the last time.— James 
Gibson, Devonhurst, Chiswick. 
FRUIT UNDER GLASS. 
Vines.— Houses in which only a few bunches are 
hanging may be cleared entirely of their contents, 
and the Grapes bottled for use as required. The 
house may then be thrown more widely open than it 
is possible to do when ripe fruit is hanging upon the 
canes. The bunches should be cut off with a good 
length of the wcod attached, so as to admit of their 
being readily inserted in the bottles, which must be 
clean and filled with clear water, placing a small 
nodule of charcoal at the bottom. If stood in a 
dark room they will keep quite well until wanted. 
Late Vineries. —In these a temperature of at 
least 6o° Fahr. should be maintained by night, 
rising well over 70° during sunny days. Air must 
be given liberally and well by both day and night, 
as a good circulation of dry air is not only necessary 
to promote the satisfactory maturation of the wood, 
but it carries off vapours that would prove injurious 
to the quality of the fruit. The borders will need 
less water now than they did when the vines were in 
full growth, as a matter of course, but if they are 
allowed to get too dry the fruit will shrivel, also the 
wood. 
Figs. —Plants in pots that are ripening very late 
fruit will need a night temperature of about 65° 
Fahr., rising to 70° during the day, or 75 s with sun 
heat. As soon as the fruit has been gathered from 
them they may be placed in a house and well ex¬ 
posed to the sun and air, so as to ripen them off a« 
far as possible. In Fig houses the same remarks 
will apply with equal force—a high temperature 
until the fruit has ripened, and a subsequent admit¬ 
tance of more air with the necessarily resulting 
lower temperatures after it has all been gathered. 
Peaches. —The present month is a very favour¬ 
able one in which to conduct any transplanting of 
Peach trees that may be considered necessary. A 
good hold is thus obtained of the new soil before 
forcing commences, and, therefore, where early 
forcing is necessary the earlier the shifting is done 
in October the better. The border should have been 
kept damp enough so that when lifting the trees a 
goodly quantity of earth will adhere to the roots. 
Plant immediately in the spots prepared, making the 
soil nicely firm about the roots, and giving a 
thorough soaking of clear water. The foliage must 
be watched carefully, and syringed now and again 
on bright days. Shade will not be necessary now. 
Only the main branches should be attached to the 
wires, and these but loosely, for a subsidence of 
the soil is sure to take place in a greater or less de¬ 
gree, and if the shoots are tied at all tightly they 
will be strangled. In the other houses the falling 
leaves are making a deal of litter, also a lot of w’ork. 
A heavy syringing now and again will help to detach 
a number of the leaves, which, however, must on no 
account be rudely brushed or pulled off. 
* 
The Fruit Room.— The call for space is decidedly 
heavy this year, and the storing-room will not be 
able to boast of very many vacant shelves or corners. 
The room must be aired w'ell on all possible 
occasions, so as to keep down the unpleasant musty 
smell that is so often met with in some fruit rooms. 
Continue to pay attention to the gathering of the 
later varieties of Apples and Pears. The hot spell 
in September has hastened the ripening of these 
considerably, and with very few exceptions they may 
all be housed now. 
Worn-out Trees. —Notes should have been taken 
of worn-out or barren trees with a view to effecting 
either their removal or coaxing them into a state of 
fruitfulness. Where old age is the cause of failure 
there is nothing for it but to root them clean out and 
plant young ones. Others may do very well if 
