June 17, lb99. 
667 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
numerous plants. Some grand pieces of the white 
varieties in pots suspended from the roof were stout 
and healthy, and just pushing out new roots. 
Mr. Lee showed me with special pleasure some 
plants of Cypripedium seedlings. These were C. 
insigne crossed with C. spicerianum. The flowers 
of these were unusually large, the dorsal sepal 
almost wholly white, every limb well propor¬ 
tioned, the whole, in Mr. Lee’s opinion, making a 
flower in its particular way of the best form and 
variety imaginable. The spicerianum characteris¬ 
tics seemed to predominate in the crossing. Of 
Cymbidium eburneum there are several fine plants 
tbat have flowered well, whilst the white variety of 
Lycaste Skinnerii is perhaps one of the best forms 
met with anywhere. I could not help noticing that 
with many of these plants in flower, the door of the 
house in which they stood was wide open ; and as 
the air was still (and Torquay is famous for its mild¬ 
ness) I can bear testimony that this early season’s 
ventilation was beneficial rather than otherwise.—5. 
-- 
FLOWERING TREES AND SHRUBS. 
Myrtus communis, the common Myrtle, is hardy 
only in favoured areas. In such places I can but 
hope that this plant, with its honour-crowned name, 
may be liberally used. 
Magnolia acuminata, commonly called the 
Cucumber tree, is a beautiful flowering plant up to 
a height of io ft. or 12 ft., but away beyond this I 
cannot say how it behaves. I have seen trees 50 ft. 
high, but I did not observe any show of bloom. 
For a flowering and ornamental tree the pinky- 
flowered Horse Chestnut (Aesculus glabra) is far pre¬ 
ferable. 
Magnolias, of the finer growing hybrid forms, are 
suitable for covering walls. The wood is certainly 
stiff and the foliage large and leathery, but where 
there are other foliaged climbers for contrast they 
aid in producing a picturesque and varied effect. 
They are not partial to soils. 
M. conspicua soulangeana is a pretty Tulip- 
flowered peachy-coloured species, giving rise to not 
a few hybrid forms. It blooms in April and May. 
Laburnum alpinum and L. vulgare, the former 
commonly called the Scotch, and the other the com¬ 
mon Laburnum, are the favourite flowering trees of 
very many folks. The Scotch Laburnum is larger 
in all respects than the common type, but otherwise 
the likeness is the same. They are used in a variety 
of ways, some of which are outrageous, such as those 
twisted to form arches. The standard or bush forms 
are the only advisable ways cf development. They 
and the Lilacs are grand companions for planting 
near either still or running water. As a rule, well- 
drained soil, though of very varying description, is 
found best for them. 
Viburnum Opulus, V. O. sterilis, V. Tinus, and 
V. plicatum require, or at least are found to thrive 
and blossom gaily in moist, thoroughly drained, red 
loams, and very well also in sandy loam. They are 
too well known for any need of further note : only 
it may be mentioned that V. plicatum is not very 
hardy, and is dwarf, with very pure white trusses of 
flowers like " balls of snow.” 
Kalmia latifolia, ia good form, reaches to 8 ft. ( 
and makes a dense flowered bush. The flowers are 
beautiful and botanically interesting. This shrub is 
not so frequently seen northwards as its merits de¬ 
serve. It flowers in May, June, and July, and does 
well in moist, cool, humic soils. 
Kerria japonica makes a bright show during 
early summer with its sprays of double yellow 
flowers, something like the double Cherry blossom, 
but smaller and different in colour. The foliage 
resembles to a degree that of the Wych Elm. The 
shoots are “ twiggy,’’ and the plant does not grow 
high. 
Ledum buxifolium goes under a variety of names. 
It is useful for planting in thick masses as an under¬ 
ground carpeting. It succeeds well, and throws out 
its sweet white flowers profusely when a sunny 
position is allowed it. Sand Myrtle and Leiophyllum 
buxifolium are other names it bears. 
Of other dwarfer and more or less notable shrubs, 
there is Erica mediterranea, the Mediterranean 
Heath, &c.; Aloysia (Lippia) citriodora, the Lemon- 
scented Verbena; Phlomis fruticosa, really a her¬ 
baceous plant, but very pretty in its season. Ononis 
arvensis, the Rest Harrow, might be oftener utilised 
on hill-sides or sunny banks and open spaces. It is 
a very dwarf pink flowered little shrub, and perfectly 
hardy in all situations. Rockeries would suit it 
properly. 
Ruscus aculeatus, or Butcher’s Broom, is a 
hardy but not very ornamental under shrub ; and to 
see the flowers one must look on the under) sides of 
the small, dark green, cordate, acuminate leaf-like 
organs. 
It may be that an increased interest in outdoor 
gardening embellishment, either in the wider use of 
fine herbaceous plants or flowering trees and shrubs, 
will lay hold of all who have the larger gardens, or it 
may not, but I should like to see this phase of the 
art more patronised.— Edina. 
COLDRA, CAERLEON. 
Coldra is the beautifully situated Monmouthshire 
residence of F. L. Davis, Esq., and received some 
notice in The Gardening World as recently as 
last October. But Coldra in autumn and 
Coldra in spring is not exactly .the same 
locale, more especially as Mr. J. Fraser, the 
horticultural spirit of the place, has affected so many 
improvements here that one has to pause and reflect 
on the conditions or state of things which existed 
about eight months ago. The great physical features 
of the district remain, of course, in statu quo ; but 
minor horticultural matters, with which the gardener 
has to concern himself, have received such considera¬ 
tion that, to say the least of it, the garden is not 
quite what it was. In the immediate vicinity of the 
mansion much has been done amongst the trees and 
shrubs in the way of felling, thinning, and clearing 
away undergrowths that quite a transformation has 
resulted. The terrace borders have been renewed, 
and Roses, which luxuriate in .this climate and soil, 
have been largely substituted. In the kitchen garden, 
too, many things have been uprooted, and young and 
up-to-date varieties of the Apple, Pear, Plum, etc., 
planted. Others, including bush fruits, have also 
received the pruner’s attention; while a new 
herbaceous border of some dimensions is just now 
showing evidence of what it is likely to be another 
year. Mr. Fraser is a strong advocate of “ intense 
culture,” that is, trenching the soil to its ultimate 
capacity, and otherwise adding to its bulk and 
fertility. The kitchen garden, which is clean and 
well cultivated, occupies a sheltered position between 
high woods and walls, and conforms in appearance 
and outline to a broad depressed figure of a Roman 
V. In the bottom runs a stream which, however, is 
covered in ; and while Peaches, Nectarines, and 
other wall fruits adorn one elevation, a range of 
glass affects the other. 
Potatos are looking remarkably well for the season, 
Myatt's Ashleaf Kidneys being particularly robust, 
and nearly ready for the table; Sutton’s Ashleaf 
follows close behind. Culinary Peas of several sorts 
are well advanced, while Sutton’s Harbinger has 
pods 3 in. long. Sweet Peas, too, are a feature 
here, and some that were sown in pots last November 
and December are 3 ft. to 4 it high, and smothered 
with buds. Broccoli, Sutton’s Late Queen, is so 
white, large, and compact, that no one but a connois¬ 
seur could distinguish it from Cauliflower. Other 
portions of this interesting walled-in garden, and the 
condition of the crops it contains, bespeak the ardour 
.with which the necessary labour has been bestowed 
upon it. In more exposed positions, however, the 
lateness of the season is much in evidence for the 
last week in May. Ornamental trees and shrubs on 
wind-swept slopes are only perfecting their foliage 
by slow degrees. The White Thorns are not yet in 
full flower, while the red and pink varieties exhibit 
little colour. The Lilac in two or three varieties 
is still in full power'; the Laburnum, or "Golden 
chain,” is as “ dropping-wells of fire ”—whatever 
that may mean—while the Beeches, cut-leaved, 
copper, and crimson, display too little of that lovely 
leafage for which these varieties are famed. The 
Chestnut is in its glory ; it is a noble tree, and where 
it has space to develop its full beauty it is a mountain 
of delight. 
Where woods are there are birds also, skimming 
the air or flitting from tree to tree. The thrush, the 
blackbird, the chaffinch, the wood-pecker, the cuckoo, 
and many others gratify, at least, our esthetic tastes 
all day long, while at night, "when no man can work ” 
—or sleep either—the nightingales pour forth such 
a rich and melodious song, that one may well be 
pardoned for inclining to the fancy that paradise is 
regained. Anyhow, the Whitsuntide of 1899, if 
somewhat unseasonable generally, is, at least, in 
Monmouthshire, where the sun is warm and the air 
sweet, a festival of pleasant sounds and fragrant 
flowers.— C. B. G., Acton, W. 
- »t- 
FRUIT GROWING IN KENT. 
(Continued from p. 619 .) 
In the Future. 
Without in any way venturing to prophecy we 
have seen enough of the success of the best fruit 
growers, to outline in some degree the probable 
cause of commercial success in the future, for it is 
to the newly planted orchards, where the sorts are 
of the best for their special purposes, and where 
clean cultivation obtains, that we must look for our 
chief supplies in time to come. In America and 
Canada they consider fifteen years the average life 
of a paying orchard ; the trees are then destroyed, 
and a fresh start made. In this country we can 
name twenty-five to thirty years as the outside limit, 
and by that time the available nutriment in the soil 
may be considered to be exhausted by the standing 
trees. 
It will, therefore, be well before that time expires 
to provide other orchards to replace the condemned 
patches. This may appear to many a drastic pro¬ 
posal, but the stimulating manures now given tend 
to strong, sappy growth, therefore I think I have not 
over-stated the case. Again, the public is fast being 
educated to distinguish between good and inferior 
fruits, and growers will find their future profit to lie 
in producing examples of the finest sorts. 
At present, colour is the market factor in Apples 
more than quality, red and yellow for dessert, and 
green or golden for kitchen sorts, which expert 
observers will notice excludes many of our best 
flavoured fruits; which being russety, or of a non¬ 
descript appearance, do not sell on the market 
boards; but where quality is asked for, they cannot 
long remain unknown. We may look also to im¬ 
proved methods of packing to secure higher prices. 
Instead of the half-sieve (four gallons) and the sieve 
baskets, choice fruits should be boxed and placed in 
punnets and suitable packages, so that on reaching 
their destination they need not be again handled 
before reaching purchasers. Many advocate a non- 
returnable wooden box, such as is used for Oranges. 
A start has been made with ripe Gooseberries,White 
Currants, and Raspberries in punnets, and good 
prices result. The best Strawberries are, of course, 
marketed in J lb. and 1 lb. reputed punnets. I 
think also that the use of artificial manures suitable 
for special soils and crops must engage the attention 
of growers in the future. It is evident, from the use 
of kainit, soot, fish, guano, basic slag, and rich port¬ 
able manures that the fertility of the land must be in¬ 
creased and retained, while with such manures, the 
crop of weeds which so often follows the use of 
stable manure may be avoided. There is another 
way in which growers should copy American pro¬ 
ducers, and that is by planting large bulks of one 
sort of either Plums, Apples, or Pears, so that 
day by day buyers can make sure of a supply of the 
same article. The wisdom of this is seen in the fact 
that when a retailer gets an Apple that suits his 
customers, and they have taken a fancy to it, the 
supply is often gone, and he buys another sort, 
which has to be tried before the public will take to 
it freely ; whereas, if a salesman were able to say " I 
shall have this sort for fourteen days or so,” the 
retailer could better gauge his wants and suit his 
customers. This also applies to Plums, and iD fact 
to all fruits. As I have before stated, all old and 
worn-out orchards should be destroyed, as I feel 
confident that, with the vast quantity of improved 
sorts which the nurserymen of the present time have 
distributed, there will be no paying market for 
inferior fruit. The fruit of the future, agaiD, must 
be carefully gathered, evenly sorted, well stored, and 
honestly packed; those men whose character is 
known on the market can always make the best 
prices, and any sharp practices in the way of mixing 
sorts and topping-up always recoil on the sender. 
In reference to the storage of fruits. I have here 
photographs of a fruit room, which has enabled 
Apples in fine condition to be exhibited as late as 
the latter days of May. I do not pretend that such 
erections are necessary for market fruit growers, as 
in Kent we have ready-made rooms in the abundant 
hop oasts and stores of the county, and many con- 
