864 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
October 17, 1903. 
Asclepias curassavica.— Tins stove herbaceous plant bears 
umbels of orange flowers during summer. When in blossom 
they are not injured by a, sojourn of a few weeks in the con¬ 
servatory. They should now be gradually dried off and placed 
under a stage in a warm structure for the winter. K. M. 
Hardy Fruit. 
Root pruning is a necessary operation most years where a 
quantity of trees are grown., but doubly so this season, on 
account of very light crops of fruit in most instances, coupled 
with a comparatively wet summer, both aiding free growth. 
With aged trees such work is best done piecemeal, one half 
the tree tackled this autumn, the' other sidei in a year’s time. 
With medium-sized trees the operation .may be completed at 
one stroke, and in the case of over-luxuriant young trees lifting 
and replanting is the best cure. To root-prune, a trench 1 ft. 
wide should be opened from 2 ft.' to 3 ft. 6 in. from the stem, 
according to size of tree, and then working away the soil with 
a garden fork, undermining the ball of soil to ascertain whether 
any roots have got into- the subsoil, cutting close up those that 
are found, and preserving all fibrous roots. When filling up 
the trench the ground immediately underneath the tree espe¬ 
cially should be rammed quite firm, using the top spit for the 
purpose, after adding a good percentage of lime or old plaster 
with the sod, this applying with more force when working 
among stone fruits. Maiden fibrous loam, with a little wood 
ashes mixed in, may be given the tree as filling in, proceeds. I 
am referring now to large trees, young specimens requiring but, 
little aid in. this way, or strong growth quickly sets in again; 
and should any be given, keep 1 it towards the surface-, so as to 
encourage the roots in that direction,. Trees carefully treated 
as advised should not fad to carry fruit, next season, but it will 
take a couple of years before the benefit of root-pruning can be 
noted, especially fruit trees bearing on the spur principle. 
Preparation for Planting.—There can be no question a well- 
drained, deeply dug—or rather trenched—sod is the best for all 
kinds of fruit trees,, and it well repays any extra labour ex¬ 
pended upon it ere planting commences. 
One necessary precaution should be always observed when 
planting on old sites ; that is, to clean away all the old soil 
and eveiy particle of root belonging to old trees, so that all 
may be sweet, and a clean start made. There is yet another 
item to bear in mind when getting out, pits for the reception 
of the trees, and that is, afford plenty of space, so that their 
roots can be carefully spread out, and on very retentive sods in 
low-lying districts it has been found of immense benefit to 
place a few large stones or brickbats, with a scattering of lime 
among the same, at the bottom, which tends to keep the roots 
of the trees drier, as well as nearer the surface. 
Stone fruits, such as Apricots, Peaches, Cherries, and even 
Plums, must have thorough drainage, the two- former requiring 
borders to be specially prepared for them to obtain the 
maximum results. Respecting compost, where much planting 
is contemplated a good heap should be got ready, so that 
when the trees arrive no delay need be caused. The like in- 
gradients advised for root-pruned trees will grow most fiuits 
well, and often, too, luxuriantly, without the least trace of 
farmyard or stable manure, unless it be where such has been 
trenched in when preparing the same some, time previous. 
Endeavour to keep the sod faddy dry before it is wanted, a,s 
the roots of trees take much quicker and far more kindly to 
such a sell than when placed around them in a sodden state. 
The Fruit Room. —We find Apples much bruised with the 
recent gales, and many of the, finest fruits decaying. Keep the 
room well ventilated for a week or ten days after the last fruits 
are gathered in,, and frequently examine the same, using the 
decaying or pecked ones first. A dark, faddy close atmosphere 
is, that best suited for -the preservation, of Apples, and, where 
the temperature fluctuates but little, airing for an houi -oi so, 
on the mornings of bright days if found necessary. 
James Mayne. 
Bid on, Devonshire. 
Notes on a Private Garden. 
By a Journeyman. 
(Concluded from page 810.) 
IV. 
The glass department of a private garden is more or less 
considered the highest position we can achieve in that par¬ 
ticular place. The, inside foreman, in general, emanates from 
that post to head gardener. When we frequent surrounding 
gardens the glass structures come under our observation ana 
criticism primarily. Should this department be in fair condi¬ 
tion we designate it as a good place. It wo,uld be no easy 
matter to discriminate the rough and good gardens existing 
in Scotland. All the, same, a safe assertion is that the rough- 
and-ready gardens are by far in excess of the well-regulated 
and up-to-date one. I will not express my opinion presently 
on what young gar deners term a good and a rough place. Tiie 
heading of a recent article in the “ G.W.” would be very appli¬ 
cable just now, viz., “ How Opinions Differ.” 
I will revert to my object of looking through the glass¬ 
houses. Taking the stoves, we find a collection of Crotons 
and Dracaenas, none of them of any special mention. Paints 
and Streiitzia Reginae fill up the centre stage. Phrynium 
variegatum is a, very ornamental subject of the plant stoves. 
To have it well coloured, avoid syringing the foliage, and allow 
it to be root-bound. Division of the roots in spring for in¬ 
crease. Acalypha macrophylla and A. godseffiana are very 
conspicuous. Ardisia crenulata and Rivina humilis, two 
berried plants,, are very effective and of simplest treatment, 
coming well from seed. If the latter is well cultivated you 
will find it a novelty in small pots for table work. Some of 
our best plants in stoves are discarded as useless for the want 
of the necessary treatment. Ruellia maerantha is now in 
flower, with its lovely bell-shaped blooms. • The charming 
Ruellia Portellae is admirable for edging. You seldom find 
this under its right botanical definition. It has some erroneous 
names, in the vicinity here. Interspersed through the stoves 
is the Cinnamon plant, a specimen Dracaena, sanderiana, Caiar 
theas,. Nepenthes,, Pandanus, Curculigo, Panax, Anthuriums, 
and the Artillery plant (Pileia miorophylla). Stove climbers 
are numerous, likewise the selection which go, under the drying- 
off principle in winter. 
Making exit from this section to the cool and showy struc¬ 
tures!, the conservatory and greenhouse, zonal Pelargoniums 
are a special feature here, some of the best being grown. It 
would be invidious on my part to announce any of the 
varieties; they are so complete all through. But I will crave 
space to- mention a new hybrid Pelargonium under the name 
of Achievement. This is a cross between a, zonal and an Ivy 
leaf Pelargonium. It carries with it an. enormous truss on a 
■strong footstalk, of a rich pink colour. It is illustrated in 
Debbie and Co.’s catalogue, and it has all the merits which 
that, firm attributes to it. Francoas and the latest Schizanthus 
introduced make a grand show. 
Petunias have been an exceptionally fine display; the 
crested singles of the grandiflora type are good ; the same 
could be said of the double white, double 1 , pink, and the purple 
and white. It is deemed necessary to perpetuate these strains 
from cuttings in the spring by keeping a. few of the roots over 
winter. You can grow large specimens in 8-in. pots from a 
cutting in spring. Climbers in these houses are Solanum 
jasminoides,, Swainsonia, coronillifolia alba,, Taesonia vau Vol- 
xemii, and Bougainvillea, glabra flowers well. Specimen 
plants of the African Cypress, Widdringtonia ericoides and tree 
Fern® occupy a centre piece. Some, of these, Cypresses were 
used for sub-tropical bedding, but they soon assumed a binned 
and unsightly appearance. Ophiopogon was also planted out, 
but it had a, similar result to the above. Adenandra, fragrans 
and Diosma, ericiodesi are odoriferous shrubs of the greenhouse. 
Lantanas,, Libonia, Coronilla,, Heliotrope, etc., make up the 
collection. 
In .the fernery are Asparagus splendens and Sprengeri, 
Pteris, Davallias, Adiantiums and Goniophlebium subauricula- 
