536 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  21,  1900. 
Fren)ontia  californica. 
Two  of  the  most  conspicuous  of  the  flowering  shrubs  flowering  in 
the  Himalayan  house  at  Kew  at  the  present  time  both  hail  from 
California.  One  is  the  attractive  Carpenteria  californica  with  large 
pure  white  flowers,  and  the  other  is  Fremontia  californica,  the  flowers 
and  leaves  of  which  are  represented  in  the  illustration  (fig.  145).  This 
B’remontia  came  to  us  with  the  reputation  of  being  quite  hardy,  but 
such  has  not  proved  to  be  the  case,  though  we  believe  it  will  thrive 
fairly  well  on  a  wall  in  a  favourable  climate.  This  is  the  more  regret¬ 
table,  as  the  splendid  pure  yellow  flowers  are  different  from  those  of  any 
other  shrub  that  is  grown  in  our  gardens. 
Writing  of  the  Carpenteria  and  the  Fremontia  in  the  Journal  of 
Horticulture  a  je&r  or  two  back,  “  W.  D.”  says,  “Although  not  culti¬ 
vated  to  any  great  extent,  the  two  plants,  Fremontia  californica  and 
Carpenteria  californica,  are  known  by  repute  to  most  horticulturists 
as  showy  flowering  shrubs.  Like  many  other  good  things  from  the 
same  country,  they  are  not  sufficiently  hardy  to  withstand  without 
injury,  in  the  open,  any  but  the  very  mildest  of  winters  as  far  north  as 
London,  and  even  with  the  protection  of  a  wall  they  are  generally  killed 
by  a  spell  of  severe  frost.  In  the  S.W.  counties,  however,  and  in  some 
parts  of  Ireland  they  do  well,  especially  if  a  snug  corner  can  be  given 
them.  At  Kew  a  good  sized  plant  of  each  has  been  included  among 
the  occupants  of  the  new  Himalayan  house,  and  in  that  place  both  are 
now  in  flower.  Fremontia  californica  is  represented  by  a  specimen 
6  feet  high.  It  is  of  pyramidal  habit,  the  branches  being  thrown  out 
at  right  angles  with  the  stem.  The  flowers  are  borne  singly  from  last 
year’s  wood ;  they  are  deep,  rich  yellow,  and  3 J  inches  across.  The 
leaves  are  more  or  less  cordate,  rather  deeply  lobed,  and  very  hairy  on 
the  under  surface.  The  example  of  Carpenteria  is  about  4^  feet  high 
by  3^  feet  through,  and  is  thickly  covered  with  upright  racemes  of 
pure  white  flowers.  Of  the  two  plants  this  is  certainly  the  more  useful, 
and  is  worth  growing  either  as  a  pot  or  border  plant  for  a  cold  green¬ 
house.  If  grown  in  a  pot,  it  will  be  greatly  benefited  by  being  plunged 
outside  for  the  summer.’’ 
- - 
Tl(e  Vine  as  an  Ornamental  Plant. 
Mr.  a.  F.  Barron’s  excellent  work,  “  Vines  and  Vine  Culture,”* 
has  reached  its  fourth  edition.  It  remains  substantially  the  same  as 
before,  but  with  certain  additions.  The  most  noteworthy  is  a  short 
illustrated  chapter  on  the  “  Vine  as  an  Ornamental  Plant.”  This  it 
undoubtedly  is  as  represented  by  certain  species  and  varieties.  We 
are  reminded  of  the  fact  that  “  years  ago  in  the  Eoyal  Horticultural 
Society’s  Gardens  at  Chiswick,  and  also  at  South  Kensington,  Vines 
were  trained  to  tall  columns  and  festooned  from  pillar  to  pillar, 
presenting  a  very  handsome  appearance  ;  ”  and  the  author  of  the  book 
goes  on  to  say  he  “  has  olton  wondered  when  looking  at  these  noble 
plants  why  the  Vine  was  not  more  generally  grown  in  this  way,  and 
that  its  beauty  should  be  so  little  known.” 
Mr.  Barron  also  reminds  us  of  another  fact,  for  fact  it  is.  that  the 
Vine  issn  excellent  town  plant,  “growing  luxuriantly  in  some  of  the 
foulest  parts  of  London.”  Now  that  pergJas  appear  to  be  coming 
into  fashion  it  is  almost  a  wonder  they  are  not  to  be  seen  in  appro¬ 
priate  positions  in  the  London  parks  and  gardens.  Arcades  of  Vines 
over  sections  of  some  of  the  walks  would  not  only  form  a  distinct  and 
attractive  feature,  but  afford  grateful  shade  for  visitors  during  those 
burning  hot  days  in  summer,  when  it  is  the  greatest  relief  that  can  be 
found.  Both  in  many  public  and  private  gardens  trees  appear  to  have 
been  planted  as  far  from  the  main  paths  as  possible.  Arcades  of  Vines 
here  and  there  over  such  paths  would  be  entirely  inviting,  whereas  at 
present  we  have  veritable  sun  traps,  rendering  the  promenades  more 
punishing  than  restful  with  a  sun  temperature  of  120°  to  130°. 
With  a  strong  framework  of  oak  or  larch,  and  this  not  trimly 
covered,  but  freely  and  informally  draped,  with  Vines,  rambling  Boses, 
Honeysuckles,  Jasmines,  and  other  appropriate  plants,  a  feature  of 
interest  would  be  added  to  both  public  parks  and  private  pleasure 
grounds  where  provision  for  summer  shade  is  lacking.  In  city  and 
town  gardens  Roses  may  not  thrive,  but  there  are  few  in  which  Vines 
and  the  wilder  Clematises,  such  as  the  “Travellers’  Joy,”  and  the 
common  Virginia  Creeper,  will  not  flourish,  and  with  these  aids  cool 
retreats  might  be  formed  that  would  be  greatly  enjoyed. 
But  Vines,  as  Mr.  Barron  suggests,  are  the  best,  and  the  best  of  these 
for  luxuriance  and  beauty  are  the  American  and  Japanese  species, 
though  some  European  varieties  are  effective.  Of  these  latter  he 
♦  12,  Mitre  Court  Cliambers,  Fleet  Street,  E.C.  5b.,  by  post  5s.  6d. 
mentions  Miller’s  Burgundy,  Espiran,  and  the  purple-leaved  Spanish 
Tenturier.  The  brilliant  Japanese  species,  Vitis  Coignetise,  has,  as  it 
deserves,  prominent  attention  for  ornamental  purposes,  and  a  good 
word  is  said  for  the  rich-leaved  American  V.  Labrusca  or  Thunbergi. 
Others  are  also  recommended,  and  it  may  be  noticed  that  Mr.  Barron 
gives  to  the  familiar  close-growing  wall  plant,  known  as  Ampelopsis 
Veitohi,  its  modern  and  presumably  proper  name  of  Vitis  inconstans. 
As  to  the  bulk  of  “  Vines  and  Vine  Culture  ”  devoted  to  the 
growing  of  Grapes  and  descriptions  of  varieties,  nothing  more  need  be 
said  than  that  it  is  the  standard  work  on  the  subject,  and  will  carry 
its  respected  author’s  name  to  posterity.  The  possession  of  this 
soundly  practical  work  should  be  regarded  as  a  necessary  part  of  the 
equipment  of  all  who  desire  to  excel  in  the  management  of  Vines  and 
the  production  of  superior  Grapes. 
- •  • - 
Mr.  Robert  Fenn  on  Potato  Hybridising. 
It  was  in  1837  I  planted  my  first  orchard  —  grubbed  up  a  lot  of 
worn-out  Apple  trees  and  renovated  their  sites,  3  yards  in  diameter 
and  2  feet  deep,  with  chopped  turves  taken  from  a  u  eadow,  and  mixed 
with  ditch  scourings  and  road  dirt  (exactly  what  the  poor  old  Chiswick 
garden  wants  doing  to  now).  As  the  spring  time  waned  this  ground, 
about  an  acre,  became  trenched  and  planted  with  the  then  most 
popular  sorts  of  Potatoes,  for  the  purpose  of  making  selections  for 
improvements  from  the  most  promising  stools.  I  lost  a  good  ten 
years  over  that  futility. 
I  have  often  longed  for  a  rich  firm  to  back  me  up  in  my 
experimental  Potato  work.  An  old  song  makes  “  Robin  Rough  ” 
sing  “  If  I  had  but  a  thousand  a  year,  Gaffer  Grey.”  Alas  !  neither  by 
wishing  nor  singing,  neither  one  nor  the  other  of  those  helps  will  ever 
come  to  my  share.  I  did  rub  my  eyes,  though,  when  a  few  weeks  ago 
I  read  in  a  contemporary,  “Fenn  of  Sulhamstead  has  ceased  to 
intercross  or  otherwise  raise  new  varieties.”  “  Fenn  of  Sulhamstead  ” 
answers  Yes  and  No  ;  Yes  in  regard  to  my  first  response.  No  means  I 
have  merely  jumped  from  South  to  North  America,  and  for  the  last 
two  decades  have  been  endeavouring  to  cross-fertilise  our  dome-tic 
varieties  with  w  Id  species  from  the  latitudes  of  New  and  Old  Mexico. 
I  have  succeeded  in  regard  to  New  Mexico  through  Solanum 
Fendleri,  and  as  regards  Old  Mexico  thus  far  with  S.  castanium,  by 
securing  last  season  a  pollen-cross  from  the  latter  with  one  of  my 
seedling  varieties.  I  feel  certain  I  shall  produce  for  posterity  efficient 
food  to  be  handed  down,  should  Providence  insure  me  life,  and  I  can 
maintain  the  opportunity.  I  put  a  stress  on  the  word,  for  continuity  in 
this  Potato-breeding  business  means  deep  delvings  into  the  ])ocket  of 
the  inventor.  Please,  however,  to  let  it  be  known  to  my  old  friends 
and  readers  of  “  our  Journal,”  that  instead  of  having  gone  under,  at 
present  it  looks  very  much  like  mv  being  on  the  surface.  But  I  can 
find  no  more  satisfactory  occupation  in  producing  by  intercrossings 
other  than  what  I  have  acceded  to  from  South  Americin  sorts  with 
our  domesticated  varieties,  unless,  perad venture,  it  would  be  in  the 
creation  of  size.  Y^ou  know  how  my  experience  for  a  very  long  time 
has  been  set  against  the  pot-wallopers.  I  am  now  busy  in  planting 
my  selections,  which  I  shall  hope  to  name  Her  Majesty  Queen 
Victoria  Jubilee  Potatoes. — Robt.  Fenn. 
[A  later  note  1  I  feel  disappointed  to-day  at  not  seeing  in  print  the 
paper  I  sent  to  the  Editor  some  time  ago  upon  the  above  subject. 
I  suppose  it  must  be  because  you  have  so  many  brilliant  writers  now 
on  more  brilliant  subjects  that  you  cannot  entertain  “Joseph.”  I  will 
try  and  not  take  it  too  much  to  heart.  Should  you,  however,  bring 
yourselves  to  consider  what  I  wrote  last,  about  my  progress  with  the 
noble  tuber,  of  sufficient  calibre,  I  send  now  a  tag  to  add  as  to  what 
happened  at  Cottage  Farm  on  the  24th  ultimo. 
That  being  Ascension  Day,  of  course  as  an  orthodox  churchwarden 
I  attended  at  the  ordinances  of  our  Church.  On  my  walk  home, 
amongfit  others  in  conversation,  I  invited  two  congenial  young 
Irishmen  who  were  of  the  congregation  to  join  me  at  a  function  I 
was  going  to  hold  in  my  greenhouse,  an  achievement  not  possible,  at 
the  date,  to  be  attested  in  any  other  part  of  the  world,  in  com¬ 
memoration  of  her  Majesty  Queen  Victoria’s  birthday.  “  Potatoes  ; 
0-h-h  !  ”  [Well,  I  told  you  all  about  them  in  my  last  important 
(sic)  unpublished  composition].  Note,  I  had  been  successful  after  a 
three  years’  tussle  in  hybridising  the  last  wild  trans-comer  from  North 
America,  Solanum  castanium,  with  an  English  seedling  of  my  own 
raising.  This  function  was  the  sowing  of  the  seed  which  my  audience, 
the  missus  included,  now  witnessed.  When  completed,  there  arose  in 
my  mind  to  quote,  “  Paul  planted,  Apollos  watered,  but  God  alone  gi  veth 
the  inciease.”  Then  after  presenting  each  of  my  audience  with  a  Rose 
for  their  buttonholes,  we  retired  into  my  cottage,  and — my  daughter 
Alice  being  from  home — one  of  the  bhoys  from  Quid  Ireland 
presiding  at  the  piano,  we  rendered  “God  Save  our  Gracious  Queen  ” 
vociferously. — Robt.  Fenn. 
