January  11,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
•>0 
Recrnt  Weather  in  London. — The  weather  in  London  during  the 
past  few  days  has  been  very  changeable.  On  Sunday  morning  it  rained 
heavily,  but  the  sun  shone  at  mid-day  and  during  the  afternoon,  and 
was  followed  by  a  frosty  night.  Precisely  the  same  conditions 
prevailed  on  Monday  until  the  evening,  when  rain  again  fell.  Tuesday 
was  showery,  but  cleared  at  night,  and  the  stars  shone  brightly  and 
clearly.  Wednesday  opened  wet. 
-  W  eather  in  the  North. — The  weather  of  the  week  ending 
the  8th  inst.  has  been  variable,  and  for  the  greater  part  disagreeably 
dull  and  wet.  On  the  morning  of  the  5th,  and  again  on  the  7th  and 
8th,  there  was  frost  of  from  3°  to  5°,  but  the  afternoons  and  evenings 
invariably  brought  cold  showers.  The  hills  all  round  have  been  covered 
with  snow.  — B.  D.,  S.  Perthshire.  ■ 
-  Yuccas. — Apropos  of  “  A.’s  ”  interesting  and  instructive  notes 
(page  569)  respecting  the  decorative  value  of  these  plants,  I  am  reminded 
of  the  value  of  several  species  for  flower  garden  vases,  tubs,  or  other 
suitable  receptacles  on  the  terrace.  For  such  purposes  one  of  the  most 
imposing  is  the  Adam’s  Needle,  Y.  gloriosa.  The  more  graceful,  how¬ 
ever,  foi^pedestal  vases  is  recurvifolia  or  pendula,  while  aloifolia,  as 
referred  to  by  “  A,,”  forms  a  noble  and  graceful  object  during  the 
summer  months  in  sheltered  positions  ;  the  same  remarks  apply  also  to 
aloifolia  variegata,  superba,  and  serrulata.  It  is  said  that  Yuccas 
seldom  perfect  seed  in  this  country,  excepting,  perhaps  the  profusely 
flowering  filamentosa,  the  most  commonly  grown  in  the  flower  garden. 
The  sterility  in  question  has  been  accounted  for  by  an  American 
entomologist  as  owing  to  the  absence  in  this  country  of  a  particular 
kind  of  moth,  a  native  of  South  America,  affd  which  there  aids'the 
fertilisation  of  the  flowers.  One  of  the  most  prolific  species  is 
acuminata,  commonly  called  the  Spanish  Bayonet,  on  account  of  its 
long,  stiff,  and  sharp  pointed  leaves. — W.  G. 
-  Eucalyptus  occidentalis. — This  is  one  of  the  few  species  of 
Eucalyptus  that  can  be  got  to  flower  in  a  small  state,  and  although  the 
flowers  individually  are  not  very  showy,  the  freedom  with  which  they 
are  produced  makes  the  plant  quite  attractive.  A  specimen  is  now 
flowering  in  the  Mexican  house  at  Kew  ;  it  is  about  12  feet  high,  the 
upper  half  being  smothered  with  buds  and  flowers.  The  plant  in 
question  has  been  pruned  to  keep  the  head  in  shape,  and  possibly  this 
somewhat  hard  pruning  has  something  to  do  with  its  freedom  of 
flowering.  The  branches  are  slender,  and  clothed  with  thick  green 
leaves,  2  to  4  inches  long.  The  flowers  are  creamy  white,  and  borne 
in  umbels  of  seven  or  more  from  the  nodes  on  old  and  new  wood.  The 
chief  attraction  in  the  flowers  is  the  large  number  of  stiff  thread-like 
stamens,  which  gives  them  a  brush-like  appearance.  Like  most  of  the 
other  members  of  the  family,  this  is  an  Australian  plant,  and  grows 
well  in  any  good  soil.  It  is  growing  in  an  intermediate  house  at  Kew, 
but  a  cold  greenhouse  is  quite  adapted  for  its  cultivation. — D. 
-  Early  Peaches. — Where  Peach  and  Nectarine  trees  are 
started  at  the  new  year,  or  before,  with  a  view  of  getting  ripe  fruit 
in  April,  the  chances  of  a  good  and  well-finished  crop  depend  consider¬ 
ably  on  how  the  trees  have  been  treated  previously  of  course,  but  no 
matter  how  well  ripened  or  how  healthy  the  trees  may  be,  much 
depends  on  their  treatment  in  the  earliest  stages  of  forcing.  Regard¬ 
ing  temperature,  it  has  come  to  be  well  understood  that  a  low  and 
gradually  increasing  one  is  the  safest,  but  this  is  only  one  part  of 
the  work,  and  a  more  rational  method  of  watering  is  much  to  be 
desired.  Watering  at  the  root  may  be  said  to  be  fairly  well  carried 
out,  but  to  keep  on  throwing  moisture  about  the  house  and  all  over 
the  trees  is  entirely  a  mistaken  idea.  On  fine  days,  when  a  liberal 
amount  of  air  can  be  admitted,  there  is  no  harm,  but  the  reverse,  in 
gently  dewing  over  the  trees,  as  it  softens  the  buds  and  makes  them 
break  kindly,  as  well  as  making  any  chance  insect  uncomfortable,  but 
too  much  of  it  softens  and  weakens  the  growth,  making  it  pale-coloured 
and  yellow.  Even  later  trees  are  not  helped  by  these  regular 
douches,  often  of  cold  water,  but  it  is  infinitely  worse  for  the  early 
ones.  As  in  every  other  detail  of  culture,  care  and  observation  are 
necessary. — II.  R.  R. 
-  Presentation  to  Mr.  Herrin. — On  the  occasion  of  the  retire¬ 
ment  of  this  well  known  and  respected  gardener  from  Dropmore,  Maiden¬ 
head,  he  was  presented  on  the  29th  ult.  with  a  fourteen-day  timepiece. 
This  was  subscribed  for  by  the  employes  in  Dropmore  Gardens,  all  of 
whom  entertain  very  great  respect  for  their  chief. 
-  Caladium  esculentum. — Plans  will  have  to  be  made  soon  for 
bedding  out  and  other  arrangements  in  the  flower  garden,  and  pro¬ 
pagation  of  various  kinds  of  plants  will  soon  have  to  be  taken  in 
hand.  For  those  who  like  a  fine-foliaged  and  easily  grown  plant  for 
the  purpose  of  summer  decoration  this  flue  Aroid  will  be  suitable.  At 
this  time  of  year  dry  roots  are  easily  procurable,  and  may  be  potted 
singly  and  placed  into  a  newly  started  vinery  or  Peach  house  where 
the  leaves  will  soon  push  up  and  the  plant  will  be  ready  for  p  itting  out 
by  the  middle  of  June.  They  will  make  a  fine  show  all  the  summer, 
and  may  be  lifted  again  at  the  end  of  October. — 0.  Hall. 
-  Antholyza  iETHioPiCA. — This  South  African  bulbous  plant  is 
closely  allied  to  Gladiolus,  and  in  habit  is  very  similar  to  some  of  the 
species  of  that  genus.  In  the  south-west  counties  it  is  hai'dy,  and 
can  be  left  out  all  winter ;  but  in  most  places,  owing  to  its  habit  of 
commencing  growth  early,  it  should  be  grown  im  the  greenhouse,  or 
at  any  rate  wintered  indoors.  When  treated  solely  as  a  greenhouse 
plant  it  should  be  started  into  growth  in  October  ;  it  will  then  be  at 
its  best  about  Christmas  or  early  in  January, ”a  time  when  the  fresh, 
light  green  foliage  is  greatly  appreciated.  The  flowers  are  rather 
small,  but  borne  in  considerable  numbers  on  stout  scapes  well  above 
the  foliage.  They  are  reddish  brown  in  colour.  In  addition  to  the 
type  there  is  a  variety  called  bicolor,  which,  to  some  people,  would  be 
the  better  plant,  being  dwarfer,  more  compact,  and  flowering  equally 
as  well.  Besides  being  a  good  pot  plant,  it  can  be  grown  planted  in  a 
border  of  loam.  In  such  a  place  it  soon  reaches  a  good  sized  mass. — D. 
-  Hessle  Gardeners’  Society. — A  fortnightly  meeting  of  the 
above  Society  was  held  in  the  Parish  School  Room,  December  19th ; 
Mr.  Mason  occupied  the  chair.  A  very  interesting  and  suggestive 
paper  on  the  culture  of  Peaches  and  Nectarines  under  glass  was  read 
by  Mr.  Reid,  Swanland  Manor  Gardens,  Brough.  His  thoroughly 
practical  remarks  were  much  appreciated.  The  essayist  recommended 
systematic  waterings  throughout  the  whole  season,  and  at  no  time 
must  the  borders  be  allowed  to  become  dry,  otherwise  the  casting  of 
buds  would  ensue.  Pruning  of  Peach  trees  immediately  after  the  last 
fruit  has  been  gathered  was  an  important  item  in  their  culture  strongly 
advocated  by  the  essayist.  This  work  being  completed  they  have  a 
far  better  chance  of  ripening  the  wood,  so  that  with, abundance  of  air 
the  trees  will  produce  sound  matured  fortified  growths  to  commence 
with  the  ensuing  season.  Red  spider  and  other  insect  pests  are  very 
troublesome,  but  with  regular  syringing  and  good  general  management 
they  may  be  easily  kept  at  bay.  A  vote  of  thanks^to  the^, Chairman  and 
essayist  terminated  an  instructive  evening. — J.  F.  D.,  Yorks. 
-  “Fruit  Farming  for  Profit.” — Mr.  George  Bunyard,  "V  .M.H., 
sends  us  a  copy  of  the  Fourth  Edition  of  his  Practical  Treatise  on  the 
above  important  subject.  “  Practical  ”  it  undoubtedly  is,  ,and  the  best 
evidence  of  its  value  and  acceptability  is  that  of  the  continuous  demand. 
The  work  appears  to  have  been  largely  rewritten,  and  is  brought  quite 
up  to  date  in  the  selection  of  varieties  of  fruits  for  planting,  some  of 
the  older  having  been  superseded  by  recent  additions.  Nowhere  can 
the  most  advanced  methods  of  Kentish  fruit  growing  k.be  found  so 
completely  and  accurately  described  as  ia  this  j  well  printed  and  sub¬ 
stantially  bound  work  of  200  pages.  In  a' chapter  on]  planting  it  is 
truly  said,  “  The  holes  dug  for  planting  in  wet  soil,  become  so  many 
traps  for  the  water,  and  if  the  soil  is  not  ^particularly  3  good  the  roots 
do  not  travel  from  the  original  hole,  and  the  trees]  c  ime  J  to  grief  in  a 
few  years.”  The  author  believes  in  aud  advocates  thorough  work  :  he 
gives  an  example  of  contract  planting  thus — -“  On  removing  the  dead 
trees  it  was  found  that  in  order  to  make  a  sightly  job  the  planter  had 
sunk  the  tall  trees  deeply  in  the  ground  to  make]the_head3  come  level  ; 
he  had  literally  dug  graves  for  them.  The  trees  werej  a  bad  lot  to 
begin  with,  being  all  heights  and  sizes.”  Owners  of  plantations  have 
usually  to  pay  dearly  for  so-called  cheap  trees  and  shuffling  work. 
Planting  may  be  done,  we  are  correctly  told,  “in  November  and  all 
through  the  winter  till  March,  the  main  point  being  to  have]  the  ground 
in  good  working  order.”  The  work  contains  plans  ,and  illustrations, 
and  cannot  fail  to  be  useful  to  growers  of  fruit.  is]  a,  handy  half- 
crown  book,  and  well  worth  the  money,  published_^by  Mr.  W.  S.  Vivish, 
j  King  Street,  Maidstone. 
