THE GARDENING WORLD 
233 
December 10, 1898. 
and thumb. SyriDging with tobacco water is also 
effective, although several applications are necessary. 
Syringing with a table spoonful of petroleum to a 
couple of gallons of water has been practised by 
some growers, who report favourably apon the 
results obtained. 
Tea Roses. — York : In your district it will be 
necessary to afford some protection to the Tea Roses. 
A little dry bracken placed round the bushes will be 
found the simplest and best covering. Boughs of 
evergreens, particularly of Conifers, are also good. 
•I «- 
INVERGOWRIE HOUSE. 
Invergowrib House, the residence of Capt. C. 
Henderson, Com. R.N., is situated on the Firth of 
Tay, a few miles to the west of Dundee, and 
sufficiently distant to escape the evil effects of the 
smoke from the numerous chimney shafts of Juteo- 
polis. The gardener, Mr. Alex. Duncan, takes 
pleasure in seeing the subjects under his care making 
satisfactory progress, whether or not the outside 
world hears or sees the same. 
He regards with some degree of satisfaction a 
grand specimen of Nephrolepis davallioides, growing 
in a 12-in. pot, measuring 20 ft. in circumference, 
about 12 ft. from tip to tip of the fronds, and standing 
some 5 ft high. Individual fronds measure 5 ft. to 
6ft. from base to apex; and owing to their vigour 
and magnificent proportions, they arch over grace¬ 
fully, as shown in the accompanying illustration. A 
span-roofed stove is the usual home of the plant, but 
it had to be taken to a vinery before it could con¬ 
veniently be photographed in its entirety. Many 
a time have we noted the growers of this species 
perfectly satisfied with fronds 2 ft. in length. For 
ordinary decorative purposes that may be large 
enough ; but if used as a basket plant of the dimen¬ 
sions above mentioned, it could not but have an 
imposing effect suspended from the roof of a large 
conservatory. 
The other illustration shows part of a brake of 
Onions, which formed an immense crop upon the 
ground, during August and September last. Mr. 
Duncan does not consider the bulbs of remarkable 
the variety, Cranston’s Excelsior, the seed having 
been supplied by Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Ltd. 
Even now many of the bulbs measure 16 in. in 
circumference—a fair growth for so northern a 
district. The bulbs of Mammoth Red are not quite 
so large, but well ripened and serviceable as are the 
others. 
-- 
Robins are partial to the juicy red berries of the 
Honeysuckle, while sparrows seem to have no par¬ 
ticular liking for them. 
staging such splendid produce, we may take it for 
granted that others will follow their lead. I need not 
enter into cultural details, as the requirements are 
much the same as already mentioned for Peaches and 
Nectarines. The only difference, according to my 
experience, is that less heat than is often given to the 
Peach, in its early stage, is advisable for the Plum. 
In fact, “the more haste the less speed,” holds good in 
forcing many fruits, I might, perhaps, with truth, 
say, all fruits Plum trees in perfect health and full 
of vigour may fail to set, and cast all their flowers, 
size, though we are of opinion that he has nothing to 
complain of in this respect. He does not exhibit, so 
that he planted the bulbs rather thickly with the view 
of making the fullest use of the ground, and getting 
a serviceable lot of bulbs. The latter were planted 
about roin. apart in the row, and the rows were a 
foot asunder, so that the bulbs were almost touching 
one another by the time they were fully developed. 
The photograph shows Mr. Duncan himself in the 
foreground, aud when it was taken on September 
I 5 t h, a portion of the Onion crop was mature and 
ready for pulling. The largest bulbs consisted of 
Onion Cranston's Excelsior. 
ORCHARD HOUSE TREES. 
[Concluded from p. 219.) 
Plums. 
This is a fruit that I think is gradually finding 
increased favour in gentlemen's gardens, and bearing 
in mind how well they answer as pot trees, and the 
lovely fruits of delicious flavour when grown under 
such conditions, it is remarkable that more are not 
grown. However, when we see such eminent 
nurserymen as Messrs, Rivers, Bunyard, and Veitch, 
and Mr. Hudson and Mr. Kelp amongst gardeners, 
simply by maintaining a stuffy and too moist atmos¬ 
phere at the blossoming period. Therefore, a genial 
warmth, not exceeding 55 degrees, with a buoyant 
condition in the house, will be found very favourable 
for obtaining a good set of fruit. 
After the fruit has commenced to swell, one must 
not hurry matters by keeping up a high temperature 
or the fruit will be almost sure to turn yellow and fall 
off, and in the excess of zeal we should be careful not 
to over-feed the plants with natural or chemical 
manures, or far more harm than good will be almost 
sure to follow. When the fruit has set abundantly. 
