330 
October  3,  1895. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
wall  having  a  south  aspect  a  small  Peach  tree,  over  this  I  placed  a  glass 
roof,  extending  on  iron  supports  7  or  8  feet  from  the  wall,  open  in  front 
and  at  the  sides.  At  the  outer  part  I  planted  another  Peach  tree,  train¬ 
ing  its  branches  on  wire  6  inches  away  from  the  glass.  The  second  year 
I  had  some  fifteen  or  twenty  fruits  on  the  outer  tree,  and  it  also  made 
good  wood.  The  following  year  an  abundance  of  fruit  set,  and  I  thinned 
tremendously,  leaving  over  100  Peaches  on  the  tree,  and  these  ripened, 
and  were  very  acceptable.  That  autumn,  large  as  the  tree  then  was,  I 
brought  it  down  into  Somersetshire,  and  it  was  planted  exactly  in  the 
same  way,  excepting  that  the  aspect  is  now  south-east.  The  trans¬ 
planting  was  well  borne,  and  the  tree  has  had  a  good  crop  every  year. 
This  season  I  thinned  it  by  hundreds,  but  have  had  about  200  fruits, 
some  of  these  fit  for  any  dinner  table. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  tree  planted  against  the  wall,  being  shaded 
by  the  foliage  of  the  other  under  the  glass,  has  never  seemed  to  me  to 
ripen  its  wood.  The  growth  remains  green  and  soft-looking,  and  though 
the  tree  blooms  the  fruit  generally  does  not  set,  or  the  few  blooms  that 
have  set  have  after  a  few  weeks  fallen.  This  year  on  an  extreme  branch, 
and  where  the  wood  has  been  more  exposed  to  sun  and  wind,  and,  there¬ 
fore,  has  enjoyed  a  greater  chance  of  becoming  matured,  I  have  one 
single  fruit  coming  to  perfection.  Well,  then,  seeing  this,  I  have  come 
to  the  conclusion  that  shaded  from  sun  and  the  elements  there  is  no 
prospect  of  my  obtaining  fruit  from  this  tree  in  its  present  position  with 
wood  that  I  consider  immature,  and  in  November  I  purpose  moving  the 
tree  to  the  outer  portion  of  the  glass,  where  it  may  obtain  some  sun  and 
wind,  and  where,  as  I  conceive,  the  wood  may  become  ripened.  Again, 
1  ask,  is  the  wood  “  A  Sceptic  ”  desires  similar  or  different  to  what  I 
want,  and,  if  similar,  what  does  he  call  it  ? — Y.  B.  A.  Z. 
Grafting. 
To  those  who  contemplate  increasing  their  stock  by  the  above 
method  these  few  notes  will  be  seasonable.  Where  stocks  are  used  it  is 
certainly  the  better  plan  to  pot  them  early  in  October  and  plunge  in  a 
cool  pit.  New  roots  will  be  well  at  work  by  the  middle  and  end  of 
November,  and  although  I  do  not  care  for  the  roots  to  be  far  advanced, 
we  surely  get  a  quicker  flow  of  sap  when  the  new  roots  are  just  on  the 
break.  This  insures  a  more  rapid  union  than  if  the  sap  was 
comparatively  at  a  standstill. 
But  we  can  perform  the  operation  of  grafting  much  easier  if  the 
following  plan  be  adopted  : — Lift  the  stocks,  lay  them  in  a  very  light 
compost.  In  about  a  month  they  will  be  ready  for  use,  and  can  be 
handled  without  breaking  off  the  new  roots  just  bursting  through. 
Always  have  the  graft  as  close  to  the  crown  of  roots  as  possible,  not  only 
to  keep  the  plant  more  dwarf,  but  as  a  great  preventive  against  future 
suckers  from  the  stock.  We  get  a  considerable  help,  too,  in  laying  the 
stocks  in  a  light  compost  for  a  short  time,  as  embryo  suckers  will  be 
pushing  up  their  heads  sufiSciently  to  be  discovered. 
My  plan  for  many  seasons  has  been  to  lift  the  stocks  from  the  open 
beds  where  the  bud  failed,  trim  off  the  best  pieces  of  root,  and  then 
work  on  these  after  a  brief  stay  in  the  light  compost.  The  fear  of 
future  suckers  is  not  only  greatly  lessened,  but  we  save  in  cost,  and  can 
make  use  of  what  would  otherwise  be  complete  waste.  If  we  cut  our 
prepared  stocks  down  to  the  root,  why  will  not  roots  alone  do  equally 
well?  I  even  find  them  an  improvement,  while  the  expense  and  labour  saved 
in  working  a  large  number  are  considerable.  It  is  not  my  intention 
to  describe  the  operation  fully,  but  I  would  like  to  call  attention  to  the 
superiority  of  wood  ripened  under  glass  over  that  grown  in  the  open. 
Not  only  is  it  better  ripened  and  sounder,  but  it  frequently  happens 
that  before  grafting  we  have  experienced  a  frost  that  affects  the  wood 
outside.  I  have  found  outside  wood  that  has  had  a  frost  of  only  a  few 
degrees  does  not  join  so  well,  nor  respond  to  the  gentle  heat  used  nearly 
so  quickly  as  that  kept  under  protection. 
A  quick  union,  an  early  response  of  the  foster  roots  without  much 
heat,  are  two  great  essentials  ;  but  we  must  have  good  and  sound  wood 
to  secure  a  perfect  union  and  healthy  future  growth.  A  small  scion,  too, 
and  one  that  has  the  eyes  as  closely  on  the  roots  as  possible,  is  also  a 
desideratum.  A  close  and  dark  case  with  a  temperature  of  60°  will  do 
away  with  any  necessity  for  grafting  wax,  moss,  clay,  or  other  material 
to  keep  the  wounds  air-tight.  A  practised  operator  will  rapidly  bind  the 
raffia  around  the  stock  and  graft  in  such  a  way  that  very  little  air  could 
gain  access.  I  have  noticed  that  amateurs  almost  always  cut  off  the 
stock  with  a  considerable  slant,  and  instead  of  grafting  on  the  higher 
side  of  this  and  so  avoiding  any  drip  or  moisture  from  running  down  the 
graft  and  stock  where  joined,  use  the  lower  side,  and  thus  form  a  cup 
that  holds  any  moisture  which  may  be  about. 
As  soon  as  the  graft  has  joined  and  new  Rose  growth  has  advanced 
some  2  inches  we  must  admit  light  gradually  and  at  times  give  a  little 
air.  Sprinkling  needs  much  care  and  judgment,  and  is  oftener  than  not 
overdone.  Let  the  grafts  be  sound  and  well  ripened  for  winter  working, 
and  whether  roots  or  stocks  are  used  do  not  have  them  too  coarse  and 
old.  To  dig  up  either  and  place  in  a  temperature  equivalent  to  stove 
heat  is  wrong.  It  is  sure  to  excite  the  little  sap  in  the  graft  and  cause  it 
to  push  out  the  eye  long  before  sufficient  can  be  obtained  from  the  foster 
roots,  and  even  before  a  union  can  be  made.  Make  the  cut  upon  your 
stock  with  a  little  thought  given  to  the  size  of  the  scion,  and  also  select 
the  former  with  the  same  object  in  view.  It  is  a  very  easy  matter  to 
pick  out  a  few  of  various  sizes,  according  to  the  growth  of  wood  in  use. 
— Practice. 
IN  A  SCOTTISH  MANSE  GARDEN. 
This  is  a  season  which  is  much  loved  by  the  flowers.  Never  at  any 
period  within  the  range  of  my  remembrance  have  those  “  stars  of  earth” 
been  more  beautiful  in  my  garden.  The  venerable  Apple  trees,  speci¬ 
ally  preserved  for  their  purpose,  are  picturesque,  with  Eckford’s  Sweet 
Peas  and  Tropseolums  climbing  and  flowering  superbly  to  a  height  of 
14  feet.  The  long  borders  are  bright  with  Begonias,  Roses,  Violas,  and 
Pelargoniums  ;  the  Chrysanthemums  with  their  infinitely  varied  hues 
are  producing  nobly  artistic  effects. 
The  Oriental  Lilies  constitute  pictures  of  marvellous  beauty.  One  of 
my  auratums,  planted  two  years  ago,  has  eighty-five  flowers,  all  of  which 
are  opening  with  great  facility.  It  has  three  flowering  stems,  which 
produced  230  buds,  so  it  may  be  easily  imagined  how  much  the  flowers 
that  have  been  permitted  to  remain  have  grown  in  dimensions,  likewise 
in  healthiness,  by  such  vigorous  disbudding.  I  am  quite  as  exacting 
with  other  flowers,  especially  Roses  and  Chrysanthemums.  I  have  this 
autumn  for  the  first  time  in  bloom  in  my  garden  that  uniquely  coloured 
Lily  Lilium  Henryi,  which  is  perhaps  valuable  for  its  distinct  com¬ 
plexion,  but  does  not  bear  comparison  with  other  and  more  beautiful 
varieties  by  which  it  is  environed  on  every  side.  Its  position  among  other 
and  more  beautiful  Eastern  Lilies  is  something  like  that  of  tigrinum  splen- 
dens,  any  importance  it  may  possess  being  derived,  not  from  the  presence 
of  remarkable  beauty,  but  from  its  capability  of  artistic  contrast.  It  has 
the  merit  of  great  vigorousness,  surviving,  as  I  can  testify,  the  most  crucial 
visitations  of  frost,  and  is  very  prolific  when  strongly  established, 
but  not  till  then.  In  this  respect  it  may  be  said  to  resemble  a  much 
grander  Lily,  Szovitzianum,  which  seldom  produces  many  flowers  the 
first  year. 
Of  the  many  existing  varieties  of  Lilium  auratum,  the  most  brilliant 
is  undoubtedly  platyphyllum  macranthum,  which  is  successful  here, 
where,  unlike  other  species  of  this  stately  family,  it  grows  stronger  and 
more  majestic  in  aspect  year  by  year.  I  like  it  much  better  than  rubro- 
vittatum,  the  deep  crimson  substitution  for  golden  rays  not  commending 
itself  to  my  consciousness  from  an  artistic  point  of  view.  I  have  no 
intention,  nevertheless,  of  pronouncing  a  dogmatic  opinion  on  the  subject, 
for  it  is  quite  possible  that  I  may  be  defective  in  taste.  I  find,  however, 
that  human  opinion  varies  very  greatly  in  this  special  direction  ;  and 
undoubtedly  it  is  better,  even  for  the  sake  of  what  may  be  termed  dis¬ 
tinctiveness  in  our  gardens,  that  such  should  be  the  case.  One  of  my 
favourite  Lilies  is  Lilium  speciosum  Kraetzeri,  which  is  among  its  con¬ 
temporaries  what  The  Bride  is  among  Roses — the  queen  of  the  exquisite 
section  to  which  it  belongs. 
No  plants  available  for  border  ornamentation  are  comparable  for  a 
moment  to  bedding  Begonias.  Here  they  have  been  flowering  without 
intermission  for  the  last  four  months.  Except  in  the  special  matter  of 
fragance  they  do  not  yield  the  supremacy  to  the  Rcse.  The  queen  of 
the  garden,  so  long  left  without  a  rival,  has  discovered  one  at  last. — 
David  R.  Williamson. 
PARK  PLACE. 
How  many  and  varied  are  the  aspects  of  old  Father  Thames  as  the 
river  rolls  seaward  !  Standing  on  any  of  the  famous  London  bridges 
with  the  murky  waters  flowing  beneath,  the  puffing  steamers  and  dingy 
barges  passing  slowly  to  and  fro,  the  huge  warehouses  and  magnificent 
public  buildings  lining  the  river’s  banks,  what  do  we  see  in  them  all  but  a 
picture  of  England’s  trade  ?  But  what  of  Henley,  peaceful  Henley? 
How  great  is  the  contrast  1  There  the  waters  are  clear  as  crystal,  and 
in  place  of  the  grimy  colliers  and  steam  tugs  are  gaily  decorated  house 
boats,  launches,  and  numerous  other  holiday  craft.  Weeping  Willows 
droop  gracefully  over  the  stream,  lazy  cows  stand  cooling  themselves  in 
the  waters,  and  the  patient  fisher  stands  rod  in  hand  waiting  for 
a  bite.  The  river  itself,  clear  and  limpid,  moves  slowly  onward,  seeming 
still,  yet  still  in  motion,  as  if  reluctant  to  leave  a  place  so  peaceful 
to  enter  the  polluting  influences  of  the  great  city  along  its  course. 
Henley  with  its  smiling  river,  its  fashionable  regattas,  its  delightful 
scenery  and  quaint  old-fashioned  streets,  surely  in  these  and  a  hundred 
other  aspects  we  have  an  ideal  picture  of  England’s  holiday  time. 
Amid  such  surroundings  one  would  expect  to  find  many  places  of 
interest  to  the  gardener,  and  nestling  amongst  the  trees  on  a  gentle 
wooded  slope,  which  rises  from  the  river’s  brink,  may  be  seen  the  outline 
of  a  charming  residence — that  is  Park  Place,  the  picturesque  home  of 
Mrs.  Noble,  and  the  object  of  a  recent  journey  by  the  writer  to  Henley. 
It  would  be  difficult  to  imagine  a  more  delightful  spot  for  a  residence, 
with  a  background  of  verdure,  and  in  the  front  a  panorama  formed  of 
the  winding  river,  the  straggling  town  and  the  hills  stretching  away  for 
miles  beyond.  It  was  a  happy  inspiration  that  caused  the  late  owner, 
Mr.  Noble,  some  twenty-five  years  ago  to  purchase  the  estate  and  make 
it  his  home.  True  we  have  seen  many  residences  more  noble  in  outline 
and  imposing  in  aspect,  but  never  one  more  truly  English,  nor  more 
