Nov. 15th, 1884. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
165 
nursery, and it is not convenient to plant them for 
two or three days, they should be placed in a cool 
dark shed, with some damp litter and garden mats 
thrown over the roots. There are three things the 
roots need to be guarded from, viz.: frost, drought, 
and light. If the fine spongioles become withered, 
the roots of the plants are much longer in taking hold 
of the soil. This is a precaution much more necessary 
in spring than in autumn, and for the reason that 
a time of drought may follow in the spring, and the 
imperfectly rooted trees will be certain to suffer, 
unless special precautions be taken in order to assist 
the trees as much as possible. 
SPICER’S LADY’S SLIPPER, 
Few plants give a more pointed example of the 
mutual interests existing between cultivator and 
importer than Cypripedium Spicerianum. Up to 
the day when Mr. F. Sander, of St. Albans, offered 
his importation at Stevens’s Rooms the price of 
the few plants in commerce was put at from 
twenty to one hundred guineas each, and so lovely 
is it when in flower that no buyer was ever known 
to regret the price paid. Hence, when Mr. Sander 
sold his plants, it needed no flourish of trumpets to 
call together buyers to the extent of some £1,500, 
many a longing amateur being satisfied with the 
object of his desire at a moderate cost. 
Every season seems to confirm the plant in public 
esteem, and each year proof is given that there is 
also variety in it besides that sold by Mr. Sander, as, 
for instance, “ Magnificum,” which is a massive form 
with dark crimson band and flush up the back of its 
snow-white dorsal sepal. Twin-flowered forms now 
appear, and observation seems to prove that the plants 
bearing them are as constant as C. barbatum biflorum. 
Our illustration gives a representation of the finest 
twin-flowered variety of the Magnificum strain we 
have seen. The plant, which lately bore three pairs 
of flowers, is in the possession of E. H. Adcock, Esq., 
West View Bank, Mount Adon Park, Lordship Lane, 
S.E., and it has before proved itself to be a twin- 
flowered variety. 
Cypripedium Spicerianum should be grown in a 
moist, shady corner of the intermediate house, or a like 
situation in the -warm house will suit it very well, as 
it does not object to heat if but the atmosphere be 
good. It is best repotted soon after the flowers fade, 
the materials used being half turfy, yellow loam, 
without much earth in it; quarter fibry peat, and a 
quarter living sphagnum moss; although, for the 
matter of that, it will thrive in a healthy house in 
almost any material. 
— —a — 
VIOLAS FOR SPRING BEDDING. 
No group of plants can in any way vie with Violas 
for producing a bright pleasing effect in either large 
or small gardens during the spring months; they are, 
in a word, the best among the many spring-bedding 
plants of to-day, and indispensable in all spring¬ 
bedding arrangements. Now that the list of good 
things among these charming plants is continually 
increasing, a few remarks as to the best and most 
useful varieties may be of service. One of the 
greatest errors in the use of Violas is that of planting 
them with the ordinary bedding plants in May and 
June, a practice which has brought them into dis¬ 
repute. Planting at such a time, and with a possi¬ 
bility of a long-continued drought ensuing, simply 
means failure and disappointment. The best results 
are obtained from early autumn-planting, and the 
earlier the better. As soon as the beds can be cleared 
of their summer occupants they should have a fair 
dressing of well-rotted manure, and be dug deeply. 
Should the soil be cold, retentive, or clayey, a liberal 
dressing of road grit or the burnt ashes from garden 
refuse will greatly assist it; if, on the other hand, it 
is very light or stony, cow-manure well-rotted will be 
found to be the best; a deep and generous, though 
not too rich, soil suits them best, and everything 
being in readiness, no time should now be lost in 
getting them in their places, and so guarantee an 
early display of bloom. 
Roughly speaking, Violas adapt themselves to an 
almost endless variety of purposes, either alone in 
masses, or in conjunction with such things as 
Daisies, Primroses, Silene pendula, Forget-me-Nots, 
Siberian Squills, Cheiranthus alpinus, together with 
Hyacinths and Tulips, and similar plants, and these 
judiciously arranged are capable of producing the 
most pleasing results, and may be safely employed 
if only a few yards of ground are available for the 
purpose; indeed, in this lies the secret; endeavour, 
in the first place, to become master of a few yards, 
and then, as opportunity offers, extend it. One of 
the most important points is the selection of good 
suitable varieties of dwarf habit, and only those 
which are early bloomers. These I will briefly 
describe. 
Among White-flowered kinds are Purity, Pilrig 
Park, and Vestal. These are good compact growers, 
of dwarf habit, and producing an abundance of 
bloom. 
Among Yellows, Queen of Spring, Yellow Dwarf, 
Sovereign, Yellow Beauty, and Golden Queen of 
Spring are the best. The two first-named kinds are 
grand in a mass, and are particularly noticeable for 
their dwarf free-flowering qualities. 
Though Blues form an extensive group with endless 
shades, there is nothing to equal True Blue (Dean) 
as an early and continuous bloomer. It is in good 
condition when the other so-called early varieties are 
only expanding their flowers, and those who require 
a good early bloomer will find this a reliable one. 
Other good blue sorts are Tory, Forerunner, and 
Royal Blue. 
In Lilac or Lavender-coloured varieties we have 
charming things, in Duchess of Sutherland, Prin¬ 
cess Teck, and Elegans, in which the soft pleasing 
tints are productive of good effect. 
The above selection is given with a view to assist 
any who may require really good useful kinds, and as 
all of these may be had at the usual prices of such 
things, there is no reason why inferior kinds should 
not give place to them. Strong well-rooted cuttings 
are the best, so plant without further delay, and 
remember that deep and firm planting is also 
essential.— E. J 
■ - G~ - - 
THE FRUIT MANUAL * 
A Manual ! Shades 1 ! Call that a Manual 11 ! Who 
would suppose that this bulky volume of 759 pages 
represents the Fifth Edition of that modest little 
Manual that made its successful debut twenty-four 
years ago. We almost think it is too big ! that it 
contains too much!! that the worthy Doctor would 
have done better had he used the pruning knife a 
little more freely, and consigned to the oblivion they 
would otherwise have obtained, a great many useless 
varieties now so prominently introduced in this work 
A great Descriptive Catalogue of Fruits is one thing— 
a Fruit Manual is another. Notwithstanding the 
evident desire of the Doctor to give to the world all 
his manifold stores of knowledge about Fruits, there 
is necessarily much omitted, and it always will be so. 
In the new work before us we find of Apples, 706 
as against 473 in the fourth edition; and of Pears, 
642 as against 681. Pine Apples, of which 25 
varieties are described, are an innovation; whilst of 
Plums, Cherries, Figs, &c., there are not so many 
alterations either as to numbers or description. 
Currants and Filberts have been recast, and Goose¬ 
berries remain as multitudinous and confusing as 
ever. 
The great and prominent feature of the present 
edition is undoubtedly the introduction of “ The New 
Classification of Apples.” This, it may be remembered, 
was submitted to the public a few years ago, and 
for which the learned doctor was awarded by his 
colleagues of the Royal Horticultural Society the 
Society’s Gold Medal. 
As a theoretical production involving a vast 
amount of most careful study, and observation of the 
most minute and perplexing character, this is 
deserving of the highest commendation. 
There is a praiseworthy endeavour to establish some¬ 
thing like order where heretofore there has been nothing 
but chaos* and one is almost persuaded that by careful 
examinations of—1. The Stamens, 2. The Tube, 
3. The Carpels, 4. The Sepals—the four structural 
characters on which the classification is based, there 
* The Fruit Manual. Fifth Edition. By Dr. Robt. 
Hogg. 171, Fleet Street. 
CYTRIrEDIUJI SPICERLiNUJI 3IAGNIFICU3I : TWIN-FLOWERED VARIETY. 
