710 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
July 11th, 1885. 
SCOTTISH GARDENING. 
The Hardy Fruit Crops. —Now that we have entered 
on that period usually known as the “ dog days,” one 
may venture to make a fair estimate of what crops the 
fruit-trees in the orchard or hardy fruit garden will 
give us in return for the anxiety and labour, the hopes 
and fears, we have experienced since last autumn, 
which was (in many localities) very favourable for the 
maturation of fruit-bearing wood and the formation of 
natural spurs. The latter always afford us pleasure 
and give hopes of at least plenty of fruit buds, and in 
most cases the buds from such spurs are far more 
likely to set and not drop their fruit than the buds 
formed on long shoots. Certain kinds of fruits 
(Apples, Pears, and Plums especially) are much more 
apt to produce such spurs than other varieties, and 
the state of the roots has much to do with the 
formation of such spurs. Long thongs of roots 
reaching far into the soil, too rich or strong to be 
natural for the production of fruit, drawing up sap late 
in autumn, when the sun has lost its power for 
ripening growth, is at the bottom of many of our 
fruit failures. But when, on the contrary, trees have 
had skilful attention at the roots (which is the 
proper means of making the tops perform their 
functions), they will become like those of an old 
Box tree matted with fibre, and could be transplanted 
when in full growth, even at this season (as we have 
done some valuable standard Hollies lately). Under 
such conditions fruit-trees of any kind are better able 
to stand against severe weather, or any other untoward 
circumstances, and bear fruit more freely than those 
which are gross and without fibre. 
We never had proof of this more abundantly than 
at present. The extra mild winter, which was not 
conducive to the resting of the young wood, seemed to 
lessen our hopes of plenty; but the late cold spring, 
with a minimum of sun, kept the buds from expanding. 
Danger from frost seemed to be past when Plums, 
Apricots, and small fruits opened their flower-buds; 
but frosts later than usual set in and weakened the 
crop of Apricots and Plums. We noticed a quantity 
of Gooseberries drop after being formed, and Currants 
also suffered, but nevertheless the crop is a heavy one. 
Gooseberries are far too heavy, and are hanging jammed 
together like unthinned Grapes, on old and young 
bushes alike. A large number of old worthless- 
looking bushes wdiich were lifted two years past, 
trimmed rather severely and transplanted on fresh 
ground, and well mulched, are bearing in such a way 
as we never remember seeing Gooseberries do before. 
We-sometimes read of the system of non-prunning of 
Gooseberries, but after seeing the results obtained by 
market men and others who grow bushes so largely 
for supplying green fruits, w T e are more in favour of 
properly pruned bushes than ever. The straightest 
shoots are retained, not shortened, if they are strong 
enough to carry a crop ; a few old branches are 
removed yearly, and under such conditions trees 
should never fail. When bushes are lifted and 
replanted on good firm bottoms, and well cared for, 
the fruit is much improved, and the bushes, by 
being less “woody,” are more manageable. 
Of Cherries there are good crops on established 
trees; our own were only planted two years ago. 
Morellos and some others are bearing fair sprinklings. 
We believe strongly in fruiting all stone fruits as early 
as they will produce a crop. It helps to prevent a 
strong, unfruitful growth, and, being a non-believer in 
much “ cutting back,” which is an old practice rather 
too firmly established, the trees always making enough 
of growth, as we have indicated we prefer “regulating” 
by the roots. On a high wall lately in an old garden 
we noticed some Cheery-trees bearing heavy crops. 
The gardener in charge said they did not bear much at 
one time, being covered with “ snags” and spurs, but 
getting rid of these and introducing healthy young 
shoots, the habit of the tree changed from barrenness 
to fruit bearing. I, however, observed that these 
shoots laid in were all matted with spurs, short, 
fruitful, and close to the walls; the old stunted 
spurs being long and spreading did not allow the 
abundant show of blossoms to expand and set. 
Pears and Apples of most kinds suitable to the 
district are a heavy crop on old and young trees alike. 
In an old orchard here they are very heavy, but many 
of the kinds found in these old orchards are 
dying out and becoming fruits of the past. It is 
supposed, and not without due consideration, that 
such orchards of hardy fruits do not return true value 
for the outlay on them. We are strongly inclined to 
dispute this argument, and in districts like this (Stir¬ 
ling), which is thickly populated, large quantities could 
be disposed of. We observe the amount of vegetables 
and fruit from Belgium and other parts shipped to 
our neighbouring ports and sold at such prices, even 
second and third hand from the shops, which would 
pay. We are lead to believe that orchards planted 
with Apples and Pears which bear abundantly every 
year (we know kinds which are loaded every season) 
would pay, and we would plant them as in Worces¬ 
tershire and some other parts, as tall standards under 
which sheep could graze, or even cattle. The heaviest 
crops of grass, and by no means the least valuable, 
can be grown in such orchards. A few yards from 
where we write the grass is as high as a man’s waist, 
and is readily eaten by a herd of bullocks and draught 
horses when cut and carted to them fresh. 
In establishing such an orchard we would follow 
the example illustrated in the orchard referred to, 
which is probably more than a century old. The 
trees are in rows planted on semicircular ridges, 
so that the water runs to the sides when superfluous. 
The depth of surface soil is increased, and the 
roots under such conditions are likely to keep 
nearer the sun and suffer less by going down into 
the subsoil. These old trees have done so, but 
many of them are being cleared away to make 
room for ornamental pleasure gardening. For an 
orchard at the present time a selection and not a 
collection of kinds should be chosen. The selection 
of Apples and Pears would be few. Among the Apples 
would be, for first cooking supply, Lord Suffield and 
Keswick Codling, then Stirling Castle, Seaton House, 
Northern Greening, and King of the Pippins. These 
have never been known to fail here ; every season, 
favourable or unfavourable, these Apples load the trees, 
which are mostly dwarf standards in the vegetable 
garden; they never had much favour shown them, 
Gooseberries and vegetables being always crowded up 
to their stems ; this was done while the ground was 
let for market purposes. The last three kinds of 
Apples named give a supply from October to May; 
there are others worthy of cultivation, but these always 
have done well and will do, from the North to the 
Land’s End.— M. T. 
- 0—- ''Tj «0» c T ‘ ■- - D —- 
SELECT HARDY PERENNIALS. 
(Continued from p. 695.) 
Cypripedium spectabile (The Showy Lady’s 
Slipper). —This is without doubt the finest of all 
known terrestrial Orchids, and certainly a gem among 
select hardy plants; indeed, it will vie with any 
tropical spiecies with which I am acquainted, and 
when so much as this can be truthfully said of it, 
this alone should render it as popular as its merits 
entitle it to be. There is no garden probably wherein 
some quiet shady spot may not be found, and as it 
delights in such a position, let it be placed there. 
Spongy peat and leaf-soil in equal parts is the 
compost for it, and water must be given freely during 
the growing season. The flowers are produced on 
leafy stems about 1 ft. 6 ins. or 2 ft. high, and are of a 
delicate rose colour, the sepals and petals being white, 
and it is readily distinguished from all others by the 
large, much inflated labellum or lip. When well 
established it frequently produces two flowers on a 
single stem, so that large clumps are most effective ; 
it is hardy in the extreme, and all who have a desire 
to embrace hardy plants should not be without it. It 
comes from North America in quantity annually, so 
that it may easily be obtained. 
C. calceolus (The English Lady’s Slipper) is by 
far the handsomest of our native Orchids, though 
now very rarely found wild. In this case the lip is 
yellow and marked with purple, the sepals and petals are 
much longer than in spectabile, and are of a brownish- 
purple. This species delights in a deep rich loam, 
or in peat and loam in equal parts, and well drained. 
It is abundantly distributed throughout Continental 
Europe, and easily obtained; these and the several 
other species flower during the last and the present 
month, and are therefore good and choice ornaments 
for the garden at this time. 
Delphiniums or Larkspurs.— For a midsummer 
display among hardy plants, we have no more effective 
plants than these, and as though they were destined 
to meet the requirements of all gardens, large or 
small, they vary in height from 1 ft. 6 ins. to 6 ft. and 
upwards. The tallest invariably have densely pyra¬ 
midal spikes, and as these are on the wane the lateral 
spikelets are produced in quantity on many varieties ; 
towering above all other flowering plants just now, 
they are indeed glorious, and no garden is complete 
without its complement of-them. They need no 
special culture, nor any special soil ; that found in 
most gardens meeting their simple requirements, 
if enriched with manure as for a Potato crop. 
These, in common with most groups of florists’ 
flowers of the present day, are represented in great 
numbers, and it is difficult to know which are the 
best and most distinct, but, with a view of assisting 
those who may require a few very good and distinct 
sorts, I will mention twelve each of single and double 
flowering varieties, taking the single ones first:— 
Coronet, 2 ft.; Hendersoni, 2 ft. 6 ins.; Bella Donna, 
2 ft. ; Cantab, 4 ft.; Coelestinum, 5 ft. ; Grandi- 
florum, 2 ft. 6 ins.; Admiration, 4 ft.; Formosum, 
3 ft.; Formosum lilacinum, 3 ft. 6 ins.; Magnifi- 
cum, 4 ft.; Wheeleri, 4 ft. ; Splendidissimum, 4 ft. 
Double kinds:—Alopecuroides, 5 ft. to 6 ft.; Argus, 
3 ft.; Barlowi versicolor, 4 ft.; Keteleri, 4 ft.; Grandi - 
florum plenum, 2 ft. 6 ins.; Jules Bourgeoise, 3 ft. 6ins.; 
Prince of Wales, 4 ft.; Mons. Barrall, 3 ft.; Pompon 
Brilliant, 2 ft.; Madame Henri Jacotot, 4 ft.; Madame 
E. Geny, 4ft.; and Banunculieflorum, 3 ft. 6 ins. These 
include the very best. I should say, however, that 
they do not always attain the height given the same 
season as planted, and probably the second year will 
be somewhat higher, since so much depends on the 
season itself ; the height given, however, will be a 
good guide for planting. 
Probably the most interesting operation in con¬ 
nection with these plants is the raising of them from 
seeds, as from a shilling packet a number of plants 
may be obtained, and which may be almost as varied 
in colour. Seed sown now, or even later on, will 
make small plants, which, if liberally treated, will 
flower at about ten months old, when the inferior 
kinds may be marked for the shrubbery, and the best 
for the mixed border or for beds. If the old spikes 
are removed directly the flowering is complete a 
second lot will soon be springing up, which materially 
lengthens the season of flowering. 
Delphinium nudicaule. —This is quite a departure 
from the predominant colour in the Larkspur, as 
in this case it is of a bright orange-red; it grows from 
1 ft. to 1 ft. 6 ins. high, and when several are planted 
in a group, the effect is most pleasing. It comes true 
and freely from seed. 
D. chinexse. —This and its numerous forms make 
up a very pleasing and distinct group in many shades 
of colour—blue, white, and purple prevailing. This 
is also freely reproduced from seed. 
Dianthus. —In referring to these, I will confine my 
remarks to that section known as Mule Pinks, and 
which form an extremely showy and highly decora¬ 
tive group of hardy perennials. Very free-flowering, 
perfectly hardy, deliciously scented, and useful in a 
cut state are some of the many good qualities which 
these possess, while as decorative border plants they 
are among the finest; some of the forms are very 
large, and when seen in masses are productive of the 
most brilliant effect. D. hybridus Atkinsoni, which 
is the only single-flowered kind I shall name, is 
probably the brightest of all in colour—a vivid carmine- 
crimson, and the individual blooms 14 ins. across. 
It is one of the most striking of summer-floweriug 
plants, certainly a gem. D. hybridus Marie Parc 
is the pure white and double Mule Pink, an old- 
fashioned plant, and still one deserving to be better 
known ; it is a free-grower and of dwarf habit. D. 
hybridus Miss Patterson has flowers of a rich crimson 
colour, freely produced, habit good and vigorous. 
D. hybridus Napoleon III., a grand plant long lost (or 
at least, if not lost very rare), but now making good 
progress ; it grows 15 ins. high, and produces in great 
profusion large double flowers of a dazzling crimson ; 
this is without doubt one of the most effective of 
dwarf plants for summer flowering, and everyone 
should possess it. 
