446 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
March 14th, 1885. 
that it was labour lost in our northern and smoke- 
charged climate to attempt outdoor cultivation of the 
fruit. The Peach was generally supposed to be a 
native of Persia and China, and to have been intro¬ 
duced into Italy during the reign of Claudius, and into 
Britain about the middle of the sixteenth century. The 
Peach was very properly esteemed one of the most 
luscious and agreeable of dessert fruits, vieing in popu¬ 
larity with all except perhaps the Vine. A high swelter¬ 
ing temperature was not necessary or desirable in Peach 
culture. A tree that had its native habitat under the 
fierce sunshine of a Persian summer must be benefited 
by all the light that could be brought to bear upon it, 
and in planning a Peach-house great attention should 
be paid to ventilation, so that it will be thorough and 
easily adjusted. What was known as a stiff soil was 
more suitable for the cultivation of the Peach than a 
light friable loam. He gave the names of the best 
varieties for growing of the Peach and Nectarine, 
and offered some practical advice as to general 
cultivation. 
The President said the cultivation of the Peach 
was a luxury in which few persons could indulge in 
these northern climes, inasmuch as it required, as 
stated by Mr. Upjohn, to be grown under glass. In 
the South of England Peaches are grown very success¬ 
fully on walls in the open-air. Few of our fruit trees 
are more liable to canker, which was mainly owing 
to unsuitable soils. It was a certain fact that to 
indifferent soils, and above all pernicious subsoils, 
that the failure in the cultivation of fruit in this 
country is to be attributed much more than to 
unfavourable climate. 
Mr. E. G. Hughes, Mr. Swan, and Mr. Plant took 
part in the discussion which followed. 
RHIPIDOPTERIS PELTATA. 
This very elegant and interesting little fern is not 
often seen in a flourishing condition. Like its near 
ally Actiniopteris radiata it often succumbs to the 
ordinary treatment given to the occupants of the 
fernery. Though a native of the West Indies it will 
not do to suppose that a large amount of heat is 
necessary, with the moisture which it certainly re¬ 
quires. In fact, it is usually the case that these 
small growers, having very slender creeping rhizomes, 
succeed much better with less heat than many of the 
strong fronded, stout rhizomed species that come 
from the same localities. The reason is not far to 
seek. The amount of comparative drought the stouter 
ones, often epiphytal, have to endure during some 
part of the season would speedily be fatal to those of 
smaller growth ; and so to succeed best with this it 
should have a temperature slightly in advance of that 
given to green-house ferns, where air is not much 
needed, or if given it should be in such a way that it 
does not play directly on the plant. It should also 
occupy a position where a fair light at command but, 
where the sunlight does not speedily dry up the sur¬ 
rounding moisture. In such a position, grown in a 
pan in a mixture of peat and sand, with a little sand¬ 
stone added, Mr. J. Fletcher, at Broome House, Dids- 
bury, has a capital plant; and as it has grown to its 
present size from a small piece, it would appear that 
the conditions are the right ones. By carrying out 
the suggestions above, those who have this little gem, 
only doing middling, may hope to have ere long a 
healthy and vigorous plant; and though at all times 
it will be a small grower, it will nevertheless be an 
interesting and pleasing addition to the collection.— 
W. Swcm Fallowfielcl. 
CARYOPTERIS MASTACANTHUS. 
This pretty Japanese plant was introduced into 
gardens upwards of forty years ago. Dr. Lindley when 
describing and figuring it in 1846, called it “ an autumn¬ 
flowering herbaceous lapnt, of some importance, 
because it furnishes an abundance of rich violet 
blossoms at a season when that colour, never abundant, 
is peculiarly rare in gardens.” In the January number 
of The Botanical Magazine is a good figure of it, 
prepared from a plant which has flowered freely in the 
open-air against a south wall at Kew during the past 
two seasons. The plant was originally introduced by 
Fortune from China. It occurs also in Hong-Kong, 
and in South Japan, where it is common in fields, 
rocky places, and on the mountains. It grows from 
1 ft. to 5 ft. high; the leaves are oblong, r coarsely 
toothed, and 1 in. to 3 ins. long; and the bright blue 
flowers are arranged in dense roundish heads of 
1^ ins. diameter, which occur in the axils of the leaves. 
Though it will stand through mild winters in the 
open air, it does better with the protection of the 
greenhouse, as might be judged from its native 
habitat. 
- o ^ - 
MOSS ON GRASS-LAND. 
Your correspondent “X. X.” (p. 430) should 
bear in mind that there Jare two things, one or 
other of which, or both combined, generally 
accompany mossy grass—viz., poverty and imperfect 
drainage. I do not think your correspondent will 
find any benefit accrue from bush-harrowing, as a 
very heavy bush-harrow would pass smoothly over 
the moss without disturbing it in the least. If the 
harrow is to be used for the purpose of destroying 
the moss, it should be one such as is used on arable 
land for breaking down and pulverizing the ploughed 
soil. This would tear up some of the moss, and 
would in a manner resemble the raking system prac¬ 
tised by some for destroying moss on lawns. Any 
kind of top-dressing is good for grass-lands. In 
addition to manure, the clearings from ditches, road- 
scrapings, town-refuse containing a large proportion 
of ashes, Ax., all have a tendency to prevent or at 
least check the growth of moss by encouraging the 
growth of grass. Lime is a first-class antidote, but 
to get it from the kiln for that purpose is rather 
expensive. Probably the best thing “ X. X.” could do 
would be to get some gas-lime and mix it with more 
than its bulk of soil or refuse of any kind, and let 
it lay in a heap well-mixed for a month or two before 
applying it to the land.— W. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Ivy.— H. S. —A variety of the common English Ivy, Hedera 
Helix, which grows wild on hedge-banks, and in the woods 
and copses of Kent and Sussex; and which is collected and 
sent to market by the same men who supply the florists with 
moss. 
Names op Plants. — G. E. Parr.— Dendrobium nobile, a 
good variety, and Ccelogyne cristata.— Young Gardener. — 
Hebeelinum ianthinum, a first-rate winter-flowering plant, not 
nearly so much grown as it deserves to be.— Scat. —A very ordi¬ 
nary variety of Lycaste Skinneri.— A. A.—Clematis indivisa 
lobata, a cool greenhouse climber.— P. S. —Narcissus, Pseudo- 
Narcissus, and Lachenalia pendula.— R. II. F. —1. Polypo¬ 
dium serpens. 2. Asplenium bulbiferum. 3. Gymnogramma 
tartarea. 4. Aspidium trifoliatum. 5. Adiantum affine 
(Cunninghami). 6. Doodia caudata. 
Seed-sowing. — Philo. —You should drain the pans well, 
and fill them with compost, rather light than otherwise, and 
give them a good watering a couple of hours before you sow 
the seeds, after which, if kept in a fairly uniform temperature, 
and not exposed to the sun, no more water will be required for 
some days. The great thing is to keep the soil as uniformly 
moist as possible, but not wet, and especially from the period 
of germination till the seedlings are pricked off. If they get 
dry at this stage, they die by hundreds, and it is at this period 
that you probably lose them. Another point requiring much 
attention, is the depth at which you sow the seeds, and in this 
you must be guided by their size—the smaller and finer the 
seeds, the less covering they require. Bead the Articles on 
“ Flower Seed Sowing ” in our present, and two last numbers. 
Radishes. — Corwen .— The varieties which turn in quickest 
are Wood's Early Frame, the Red and White Turnip-rooted, 
and the Olive-shaped, all of which are good. 
Climbers poe a Stove.— J . C . B . — Allamanda Hendersoni. 
or A. nobilis, any of the Dipladenias, Clerodendron Balfour- 
ianum, Stephanotis floribunda, Bougainvillea glabra or 
B. spectabilis, Passiflora Princeps, Ipomsea Horsfallise, 
Thunbergia Harrisii, and Tecoma spectabilis. 
Communications Received.— C. W.—R. B.—H. E. (many 
thanks),-E. J.—W. S — A. E—T. G.—A. M—W. B. U — 
C. S. 
-s —'—a 
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
The Editor begs to inform his readers that spiecial 
attention will be paid in the columns of The Gardening 
World, to the answering of questions on all subjects 
connected with practical horticulture, in which depart¬ 
ment he will have the assistance of several gardeners of 
great experience and known ability. To save time, 
however, as far as possible, correspondents are specially 
requested to icrite only on one side of the paper; to 
write their questions in as few words as possible con- 
siste/it with clearness ; and where two or more questions 
are asked on widely different subjects, to be good enough 
to put them on separate pieces of paper. 
It is also particularly requested that correspendents 
will favour us with their communications as early in 
the week as possible, and that they address them only to 
“ The Editor.” 
LONDON SEED TRADE, 
March 11th, 1385. 
Messrs. Hurst & Son, of 152, Houndsditch, and 
39, Seed Market, Mark Lane, report an increased 
demand for White and Alsike Clover, and values firm. 
Bed moves slowly, and some inferior samples of 
foreign seed are offering at lower rates. Trefoil steady. 
Spring Tares in good demand, at last week’s prices. 
Foreign, Italian and Perennial Bye Grass meet with 
ready sale at present low prices. Bird Seeds un¬ 
changed. 
COYENT GARDEN MARKET, 
March 12th. 
Fruit.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
S.d. s. d. | s. d. s. d. 
Apples, 4-sieve. 1 6- 5 0 Kent Filberts and 
— Nova Scotian, per i Cobbs, per 100 lb. 55 0- 
barrel .10 0-15 0 Pine-apples, Eng., lb. 10-20 
— Extra samples.18 0-21 0 St. Michaels. 3 0- 8 0 
Grapes, per lb. 4 0- 8 0 j 
Vegetables.—Average Retail Prices. 
s. d. s. d. 
Artichokes, Globe,per 
dozen . 2 0- 4 0 
Beans, French, per lb. -10 
Beet, per dozen . 2 0- 3 0 
Brussels Sprouts,p. lb.O 4- 
Cabbages,Spring,doz. 10-20 
Carrots, per bunch... 0 6- 
Cauliflowers,English, 
per dozen . 4 0- 6 0 
Celery, per bundle ... 1 6- 2 6 
Cucumbers, each ... 1 0-1 0 
Endive, French, per 
dozen . 2 6- 3 6 
Garlic, per lb. 0 6- 
s. d. s. d. 
Herbs, per bunch ... 0 2- 0 4 
Horse Radish, bundle 3 0-50 
Lettuces, Cabbage, 
per dozen . 2 0- 
— Cos, each . 0 2- 
Mushrooms, p. basket 10-20 
Onions, per bushel... 3 0-50 
Parsley, per bunch... 0 6- 
Radishes, per dozen... 1 8- 
Small salading, per 
punnet. 0 4- 
Spinach, per strike... 2 0- 
Tomatos, per lb. 2 0- 
Turnips, per bunch... 0 6- 
Potatos. —Kent Regents, SOs. to 100s. per ton ; Kent Kidneys, 
80s. to 100s. per ton; Champions, 70s. per ton. 
Cur Flowers.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s. d. s. d. 
Abutilon, 12 bunches 2 0-40 
Arum Lilies, 12 blms. 3 0-60 
Azalea, 12 sprays ...0 6-10 
Bourvardias, per bun. 1 0- 1 G 
Camellias, 12 blooms 10-30 
Carnations, 12 blooms 16-30 
Chrysanthemums, 12 
bunches . 
— large, 12 blooms ... 
Cyclamen,doz.blooms 0 3-0 6 
Cineraria, per bunch 0 6-10 
Epiphyllums,12 blms. 0 4-06 
Eucharis, per dozen 3 0-60 
Gardenias, 12 blms. 4 0-80 
Heliotropes,12 sprays 0 6-10 
Hyacinths, Roman, 
doz. sprays. 10-16 
Lapageria, white, 12 
blooms. 2 0-30 
Lapageria,red,12blms.l 0-2 0 
Lily of the Valley, 
doz. sprays. 10-20 
s. cl. s. d. 
Marguerites, 12 bun. 4 o -90 
Narciss, various, 
French, doz. bun. 1 G- 5 0 
Pelargoniums, per 12 
sprays. 1 0- 1 6 
—scarlet.per 12 sprays 0 9-10 
Pinks, various, 12 
bunches . 
Primula, double bun. 10-16 
Primulas,Chinese,bun 4 0-6 0 
Pyrethrum, 12 bun. 
Roses (coloured). 4 0-80 
Roses, indoors, p.doz. 2 0-60 
Roses (French), per 
doz. 10-30 
Stephanotis, 12 spr. 
Tuberoses, per dozen 
Tulips, per doz. 0 9- 1 0 
Violets, doz. bun. ... 0 4- 0 9 
— French, per. bun. 0 3-10 
— Parma, per. bmT... 3 0-40 
White Jasmine, bun. 0 6-10 
Plants in Pots.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s. d. s. d. 
Aralia Sieboldi, per 
dozen . 6 0-24 0 
Arum Lilies, per doz. 9 0 18 0 
Azalea, per doz.18 0-42 0 
Begonias, per dozen 4 0-12 0 
Bouvardias, dozen... 9 0-18 0 
Chrysanth., dozen ... 
Cineraria, per dozen 9 0-15 0 
Cockscombs, dozen 
Cyclamens, doz. 9 0-18 0 
Cyperus, per dozen 4 0-12 0 
Dractena term., doz. 30 0-60 0 
— viridis, per dozen 12 0-24 0 
Epiphyllums, doz. ...18 0-24 0 
Evergreens, in var., 
per dozen . 6 0-24 0 
s. d. s. d. 
Ferns, in var., dozen 4 0-18 0 
Eicus elastica, each... 16-70 
Foliage Plants, vari¬ 
ous, each .. 2 0-10 0 
Genista, per dozen 9 0-15 0 
Hyacinths, doz. 6 0- 9 0 
Liliuni, various, per 
doz. 
Marguerites, per doz. 9 0-18 0 
Palms in variety, each 2 6-21 0 
Pelargoniums, "scarlet 
per dozen . 4 0- 6 0 
Petunias, per dozen 
Poinsettia, doz. 
Spirea, per dozen.12 0 18 9 
Solanums, dozen. 
— a_ ■ i ~TL ^>- 7r~' ■_ o — 
CONTENTS 
PAGE 
Amateurs’ Garden, the ... 440 
Amateurs’ plants, useful.. 438 
Annuals, a neat edging of 442 
Annuals, cheaply grown... 442 
Apples, well kept. 442 
Balsams and Balsams. 439 
Begonias, tuberous . 439 
Calendula ‘"Meteor” . 443 
Cupressus Lawsoniana 
erecta viridis . 436 
Carnations, perpetual 
flowering. 43S 
Cattleyas, Mr. Lee’s. 445 
Cinerarias . 445 
Crocuses, Spring-flower. 
ing . 439 
Dendrobium speceosum ... 445 
Dendrobium Wardianum 445 
Floriculture. 445 
Flower Seed Sowing.437 
Flowers. 442 
Fruit Culture under Glass 442 
Garden, cropping a . 443 
Gardeners, the training of 435 
Gardening Miscellany. 436 
Horticultural Societies ... 445 
Kitchen-Gardener’s 
Calendar . 443 
PAGE 
Manchester Horticultural 
Improvement Society ... 445 
Mignonette for winter 
flowering . 442 
Moss on Grass Land. 446 
Mushrooms, prolific . 443 
Omphalodes verna . 438 
Oncidium Marshallianum 445 
Orchid Growers’ Calendar 445 
Orchids, Mr. Pollett’s. 445 
Ouvirandia fenastralis ...438 
Patents, new gardening... 439 
Phloxes, herbaceous......... 436 
Pinks . 441 
Potting Composts, on 
warming . 436 
Propagating by root- 
cuttmgs. 443 
Primroses, hardy . 442 
Rhipidopteris peltata . 446 
Royal Horticultural 
Society . 445 
Saxifraga ligulata. 436 
Strawberries, planting ... 442 
Vegetables . 443 
Wall trees, protecting. 436 
Williams, Mr. B. S. ( with 
portrait ) .440 
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