TUB GARDENING WORLD. 
April 9, 1904. 
30G 
that the same plant may appear like a Primrose at one time 
and a Polyanthus at another. It has been our belief for many 
years past that the garden Polyanthus has been, derived from 
the Primrose simply by the elongation of the common stalk of 
the flowers and not by hybridisation. We could see this form 
of evolution in, the Primrose known asi P. altaica more than 
twenty years ago. This name was incorrect, however, as it 
was only a coloured variety of the Primrose, and since then 
has given rise to thei blue Primrose and the blue Polyanthus. 
Besides those we have already mentioned we came upon 
several other Anemones on the rockery, including A. blanda 
annulate., blue with a white zone in the centre; and A. b. 
taurica, the latter being rather a variable plant with rose, blue, 
and white or mottled flowers, this being due to variation in a 
wild state and their introduction without being separated into 
colours. A. Hepatica was flowering freely in blue and white 
single varieties, as well as the double red and the double blue. 
Ini veiy fine form was Ills reticulata, one of the best for oub 
door culture for the simple reason that it doe® not bloom till 
March or April out. of doors, and thereby escapes much of the 
bad weather to which our fickle climate renders us liable. The 
flowers are softly but deliciously scented. Its distant relative 
I. unguioularis (style,sa,) has been, flowering for months past.. 
Very cheerful now upon, the rockery is Adonis vernalis, with 
its dwarf stems, finely-divided leaves, and bright yellow 
flowers. Those who like winter tints upon, the rockery will 
find a good subject in Tellima granJflora purpurea, with purple 
leaves. Amongst early-flowering Crucifers we noted Arabis 
albida fl. pi. coming into bloom, while the dense tufts of leaves 1 
produced! by Draba grandiflora. were covered with their white 
flowers. A very pleasing Umbellifer is Hacquetiai Epipaotis, 
with its yellow flowers and bracts. Very fine evergreen foliage 
is supplied by the Setteringwort (Helleborus foetidus). With 
the lengthening days, Erica cain.ea was developing a fine rich 
rose-purple colour. 
For many years past Messrs. Barr have had a very repre¬ 
sentative and valuable collection, of species and varieties of 
Crocus: Many of them were; in bloom on the occasion of our 
visit about the middle of last month, and we shall now proceed 
to make some remarks upon those which interested us.. A new 
variety was C. candidus' luteus, with clear yellow flowers and 
darker base, being a yellow variety of what was originally a. 
white Crocus. On the other hand, we noted a white variety of 
an orange-coloured Crocus—namely, C. chrysanthus albidus. 
The flowers are small, white, with a. yellow base inside, and 
pointed segments that, give the flowers a beautiful starry 
appearance under the influence of sunshine. A very strong¬ 
growing and free-flowering Crocus is C. thomasinianus, with, 
large pale blue flowers appearing amongst the earliest. Very 
distinct a.nd beautiful also were C. sulphurous and C. s. 
striatius, the latter having three dark purple lines on the back 
of the flowers. Somewhat similar is. C. stellatus, feathered 
with brownish-purple on the back of the outer segments. Then 
again, we have C. versicolor flore alba, with white flowers 
feathered at the base only. A very tiny flower is C. biflorus 
minor. Those of C. b. pusillus. are white, with a, deep purple 
feather. A very handsome Crocus is C. aureus;, with self- 
coloured golden-yellow flowers.. C. a,, laeteus, on the other 
hand, has creamy flowers. A very early Crocus, with large 
blooms, is C. Imperati with pale purple flowers, feathered with 
darker purple on the back. 
The varieties of C. vernus are n.ow exceedingly numerousi, 
and. seeing that they can be obtained from the Dutch growers 
in such large quantities, it \Vould seem to be unnecessary to 
o-row them here. The collection, however, is, devoted to rare 
and beautiful varieties of the vernal Crocus that are rather 
scarce in Dutch collections, or, in fact, in any collection. For 
instance, C. v. Geo,. Maw has white flowers with a, yellow stripe 
on the upper third of the midrib of the outer segments, and 
the scarlet stigmas are sometimes protruded from the flower 
in such a way as to be very conspicuous. Very handsome also 
is C. v. leuoorliynchus, with a, white tip to the flowers, below 
which is a very dark violet-purple zone, with a paler blue base, 
the contrast being very striking. C. v. variegatus has large 
white flowers with a dark purple tube, often with a feather 
to the outer segments. C. v. obovatus is white, feathered with 
purple on both faces. A large flower also is C. v. Emperor, 
purple; also 1 C. v. albiflorus, with white flowers and a purple 
tube, adds to the beauty of a, collection of these early spring 
flowering subjects. 
Pruning Fruit Trees. 
This, the most, important item in fruit growing, is not so 
well understood as it ought to be, nor does it seem to be so 
well understood at, the present day as it has been amongst 
gardeners of some considerable time ago: 
It is, a pity such is the case, but it is a fact, as anyone can 
see who looks at a young plantation of fruit trees and then, has 
a walk round some of the old “ long-established ” gardens, 
where you find the trees in splendid form and still in good 
bearing order. Now, the successful fruit grower must under¬ 
stand how to use the knife on both top and roots of his trees. 
A judicious use of the knife is as much required on the roots 
a,si on the tops; of fruit, trees, of course depending upon the 
nature of the soil in which they are growing. 
When the roots run away in long, thick runners they are of 
very little use asi feeders to the tree, and this is veiy often 
indicated by the appearance of very large and soft, shoots; when 
such appear the roots should be seen to. 
This, is best performed in early winter, allowing the roots 
which are cut to; heal over, and be ready to 1 send out, fibres 
in early spring. Take out, a trench 2 ft. to, 3 ft. from the 
base of the tree, according to the age and size of it, and two 
spits broad, and dig down until you are under all the; roots, 
being careful with all fibrous roots, but, all long bare ones 
should be cut, with a, sharp knife on the inside of the trench, 
and then a, good barrowload of loam put, into the trench, when 
the cut ends will soon heal over and send out nice fibres, and 
very soon the difference will be detected on. the top of the 
tree. In making the cut of the root, lift the root, place the 
knife under it where you wish to, cut it and cut upwards, having 
the knife always very sharp 1 , ensuring a good clean cut. 
When, you wish to root prune an old tree., it is best to' do 
it in two or three sea,son®, doing a, half or a third in one 
season and the other half or third the following season, and so 
on ; then it doe® not give it so much of a check all at once. 
If the roots of a tree are well looked after it, reduces the work 
on the top to a great, extent, hut this should also be well looked 
after. One who, thoroughly understands the management, of 
fruit trees in regard to pruning ha® a greater control over the 
crop, than one would imagine ; this is easily seen by anyone 
visiting a, few gardens. In, the one; garden you find the trees 
bare of fruit,, with plenty of vegetative growth on them, and 
the owner complaining of the bad season for fruit; while the 
next one you go into the trees; are comfortably loaded with 
fruit, and the owner is justly proud of them. This is because 
he understands his trees;, the pruning, thinning fruit, etc. 
In pruning, one must, not, be afraid to, use the knife, hut, 
use plenty of common,-sense along with it. When, cutting off a 
shoot that is not required, cut it, right away ; do not, leave it, 
an inch or soi long, a® you then leave plenty of wood buds 
which take away the nourishment which should be going to 
nourish the developing fruit buds, and the consequences are 
the fruit buds are starved and cannot resist severe cold or othei 
adverse conditions at the setting of the fruit. On the othei 
hand, when, judiciously pruned, when every .shoot that is not 
required is cut right away, and even some of the unnecessary 
fruit buds cut away also, you then give the buds, that are left, 
a, chance to be thoroughly nourished and have plenty of food 
substances, carried to them to supply their need at, the critical 
moment, and also, throughout the growth of the fruit. It also 
does good in, the growing season ; a,s the trees are not so thick 
the sun has full play amongst the branches and assists in 
developing the fruit and also to thoroughly ripen the wood and 
develop the buds for the succeeding crop. 
