December  1,  189J. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  423 
the  farmers)  ;  but  all  Apples  do  exceedingly  well.  Many  tons  of  good 
fruit  are  disposed  of  every  season  from  this  village  alone.  You  may, 
perhaps,  be  able  to  tell  me  if  the  above-named  Apple  is  now  in  commerce, 
as  I  failed  to  get  any  information  about  it  at  a  well  known  nursery  not  far 
away. — WILLIAM  Clayton,  Appleton  School,  York. 
[Grey  Leadington  is  a  variety  of  Scottish  origin,  and  is  a  good  culinary 
Apple.  It  is  not  found  in  many  catalogues,  having  been  superseded  by 
equally  good  varieties  of  finer  appearance.  Occasionally  a  tree  is  found 
of  this  and  other  old  Apples,  the  crops  of  which  are  very  serviceable. 
The  small  to  medium-sized  sample,  though  satisfactory  for  cooking,  would 
realise  little  in  Covent  Garden.  The  heavy  crops  so  exhaust  the  tree 
that  a  year  is  required  for  recuperation,  and  hence  the  crops  on  alternate 
years.  Tf  the  fruits  were  severely  thinned  when  young,  as  they  cannot 
very  easily  bo  on  lofty  trees,  those  retained  would  be  the  finer,  while 
blossom  buds  would,  at  the  same  time,  develop  for  producing  fruit  the 
succeeding  year.  This  we  have  repeatedly  proved  by  experiments  on 
bush  and  wall  trees  of  both  Apples  and  Pears.] 
GARDEN"  REFUSE. 
Very  often  this  is  regarded  as  somewhat  of  a  nuisance,  and  possibly 
in  some  gardens  where  an  out-of-the-way  corner  is  not  within  easy  reach 
q?  tolerated  it  may  be  so.  Indeed,  valuable  ingredient  comes  in  the  form 
of  “burnbake”  when  the  accumulation  of  refuso  in  its  varied  kinds  are 
submitted  to  a  slow  smouldering  fire.  There  are  few  gardens  where  this 
can  be  objected  to,  and  still  fewer  where  the  residue  from  any  material 
|)urnt  could  not  be  found  a  good  use  for.  Another  and  equally  easy 
jneans  of  disposal  may  bo  found  in  trenching,  or  even  bastard  trenching, 
when  circumstances  do  not  permit  of  deeper  cultivation. 
During  the  winter  months  digging  and  trenching  is  constantly  in 
progress.  Herein  is  found  an  outlet  for  all  and  every  kind  of  accumu¬ 
lation,  whether  of  long  standing  or  only  from  day  to  day.  A  layer,  vary¬ 
ing  according  to  the  quantity  to  be  dealt  with  and  the  depth  to  which  the 
ground  is  moved,  placed  in  the  bottom  of  each  trench,  and  over  this  a 
course  of  manure,  adds  fertility  to  the  soil  of  greater  duration  than 
manure  alone,  and  provides  a  store  for  deep-rooting  plants  months  after 
Its  disposal. 
Where  Asparagus  is  taken  up  annually  for  forcing  thero  is  the  need 
for  making  and  planting  of  new  teds  to  maintain  the  supply.  In  some 
gardens  Asparagus  grows  freely  enough,  treated  as  casually  as  other 
vegetables  ;  but  there  are  other  gardens  where  special  provision  is 
made  for  planting.  This  is  particularly  desired  when  they  are  destined 
to  remain  undisturbed  for  many  years.  Here  is  another  splendid  oppor¬ 
tunity  for  ridding  the  garden  of  an  eyesore.  A  trench,  in  width  and 
depth  determined  by  individual  circumstances,  can  be  opened  the  whole 
length  of  the  intended  bed,  or,  if  need  be,  it  can  just  as  easily,  or 
perhaps  more  conveniently,  be  done  piecemeal,  a  yard  or  two  at  a 
time.  If  this  is  decided  on  in  the  autumn  it  is  quite  easy  to  dispose 
of  a  quantity  of  refuso  during  the  winter.  A  similar  provision  would 
answer  well  for  the  growth  of  Vegetable  Marrows  in  summer.  I  may 
be  told  thut  these  need  no  special  culture,  but  simply  planted  very  much 
the  same  as  other  vegetables,  allowing,  of  course,  sufficient  room  for  the 
Vine  to  ramb'e  and  fruit.  This  is  quite  true,  no  doubt,  but  it  is  equally 
true  that  Marrows  can  be  produced  in  positions  quite  unfitted  for  other 
vegetables,  or,  at  any  rate,  where  they  would  appear  out  of  place. 
This,  with  strawy  manure  squarely  built  up  in  an  out-of-the-way  corner, 
will  provide  a  good  position  for  Marrows  in  summer,  and  by  the  next 
autumn  all  will  be  in  good  condition  for  digging  into  vacant  ground,  and 
its  clearance  will  provide  a  place  for  a  future  store. 
In  a  large  garden  the  accumulation  of  refuse  is  a  considerable  item, 
and  at  some  seasons  of  the  year  demands  the  provision  of  a  site  to  which 
it  may  be  carted.  In  the  course  of  a  brief  interview  with  the  well-known 
gardener  at  Badminton,  Mr.  Nash,  I  had  occasion  to  listen  to  a  very 
eloquent  testimony  of  the  value  of  rrfuoc.  A  disused  quarry  became  an 
ideal  spot  for  the  disposition  of  such  material,  and,  to  use  Mr.  Nash's  own 
words,  ‘  there  is  a  good  deal  to  curt  away  from  a  garden  the  size  of 
Badminton.”  Some  alteration  made  on  the  lawns,  and  the  cutting  out  of 
new  flower  beds,  disclosed  the  need  of  removal  of  much  heavy  clayey 
soil,  and  the  question  in  Mr.  Nash’s  mind  was,  Where  shall  I  get  soil  to 
replace  the  clay  removed,  and  of  a  suitable  character  for  such  a  purpose  ? 
II  s  thoughts  very  fortunately  took  him  to  the  quarry,  which  revealed 
an  unlimited  store  of  fine  vegetable  mould,  and  bis  discovery  at  such  an 
opportune  moment  made  his  enthusiasm  pass  almost  beyond  bounds. 
The  incidents  that  have  happened  during  the  time  this  much-apprc- 
cia‘ed  store  was  going  on,  to  some  would  be  taken  as  serious.  On  more 
than  one  occasion,  perhaps  from  careless  manipulation  of  the  horse  and 
cart,  those  were  deposited  with  their  load  into  the  quarry  beneath,  the 
tipping  taking  place  from  the  top.  Tosco  horse,  cart,  and  load  being  summer¬ 
saulted  into  the  quarry  might  shake  the  nerves  of  many  a  driver,  and 
gardener,  too,  who  is  indirectly  responsible;  but  to  Mr.  Nash,  judging 
from  his  cool  relation  of  the  fact,  it  was  to  him  only  an  incident  of  every¬ 
day’  life,  calling  for  no  undue  alarm,  even  though  the  horse  should  come 
out  of  the  ordeal  slightly  the  worse  for  his  experience  of  quarry  life. 
The  discovery  thus  made  and  related  did  not  become  an  exhai  s'ed  store 
in  filling  newly  made  flower  beds, but  when  other  work  in  hand  required  any 
special  ingredient,  notably  for  potting,  the  advice  was  go  to  the  quarry’, 
or,  as  Mr.  Nash  preferred  to  put  if,  to  the  gold  mine— a  phrase  descrip¬ 
tive  of  his  estimation  of  well  decayed  garden  refuse,  and  one,  no  doubt, 
well  merited.  The  rubbish  henp  at  Badminton,  though  necessarily 
relegated  to  a  disused  quarry,  will  not  in  the  future  be  devoid  of  interest  to 
others  beside  its  well  know  n  and  highly  respected  gardener. — W.  S.,  Wilts. 
PERENNIAL  BORDER  FLOWERS. 
The  “Notes  on  Alpine  Flowers,”  at  present  appearing  in  the- 
Journal,  may  possibly  with  advantage  be  accompanied  by  similar 
information  regarding  hardy  flowers  suitable  for  the  flower  border.  For 
convenience  it  is  not,  however,  intended  to  describe  the  various  species 
in  such  detail,  but  to  speak  of  the  various  genera  more  generally  and  in 
alphabetical  order.  As  some  flowers  arc  as  suitable  for  the  border  ns 
for  the  rock  garden,  it  is  impossible  to  avoid  touching  upon  sone  of  those 
dealt  with  in  the  notes  of  “Alpinus,”  but  as  they  will  be  looked  upon 
from  another  point  of  view,  this  will  not  matter. 
Acanthuses. 
For  picturesque  effect  the  Acanthus  has  long  been  appreciated  and> 
admired.  Its  bold  habit  makes  it  of  much  value  in  the  mixed  border, 
and  a  small  bed  is  at  times  very  effective  in  the  grass.  The  Bear’s. 
Breech  is  of  easy  cultivation,  and  may  be  grown  to  the  greatest  perfec¬ 
tion  in  a  rich  deep  soil,  with  a  position  fully  open  to  the  sun.  These 
conditions  will  enable  it  to  grow  with  greater  vigour,  and  to  show  its 
full  beauty.  Any  fairly  good  soil,  not  too  dry  or  shallow,  will,  however, 
give  good  results  even  if  the  plants  are  to  some  degree  shaded.  The 
flowers  are  in  long  spikes,  but  the  principal  value  of  the  Acanthus 
consists  in  its  foliage,  which  is  of  much  beauty.  About  thirty  species 
are  recognised,  but  the  greater  number  of  these  are  either  not  in  cultiva¬ 
tion,  or  from  their  tenderness  or  inferior  beauty  need  not  be  sought 
after.  Perhaps  the  best  for  ordinary  cultivation  are  the  following — 
A.  longifolius,  which  comes  from  Dalmatia,  grows  from  3  to  5  feet  high, 
with  purple  and  rose  flowers,  and  oval,  spiny,  and  pointed  leaves.  It 
flowers  about  June.  • 
A.  mollis  is  a  good  species,  but  the  form  known  as  A.  mollis  latifolius 
is  superior,  with  its  white  or  rose  flowers  and  large  rather  heart-shaped 
leaves.  It  should  have  a  warm  situatiou.  Tho  nomenclature  of  the 
genus  is  in  a  confused  state,  so  that  some  difficulty  may  be  found  in 
procuring  the  true  plant.  This  remark  also  applies  to  another 
Acanthus — one  of  tho  best  also — known  as  A.  spinosus  var.  spinosis- 
simus,  or  A.  spinosissimus.  It  has  rosy  flowers  on  a  spiny  spike  of 
considerable  length  and  beauty.  The  spiny  leaves  are  pinnatifid  and 
lnciniated  with  white  spines.  It  grows  from  to  4  feet  high,  A.  mollis 
latifolius  being  a  little  taller.  The  Acanthuses  may  bo  propagated  by- 
division  of  the  roots  in  spring  or  autumn,  and  can  also  be  raised  from 
seeds  sown  in  pots  in  spring  and  placed  under  glass. 
Achilleas. 
Achillens  or  Milfoils  vary  much  in  merit.  Some  arc  of  considerable 
beauty,  while  others  are  poor  and  weed}’.  There  are  too  many  in  culti¬ 
vation  to  be  treated  of  exhaustively  in  these  notes,  but  those  named  will 
be  found  among  tho  most  useful  of  those  in  gardens.  The  general 
appearance  of  the  plants  may  bo  best  described  by  referring  the  reader 
to  ihe  common  Milfoil,  well  known  to  almost  everyone.  A.  aegyptiaca 
— tho  Egyptian  Milfoil  — is  often  confused  with  A.  Eupatorium,  which 
it  resembles  in  the  colour  of  its  yellow  flowers.  It  is,  however,  of 
d  warfer  habit,  and  only  grows  from  1 J  to  2^  feet  high,  while  A.  Eupatorium 
grows  from  4  to  5  feet  in  height.  Tho  foliage  is  also  different,  and  the 
corymbs  of  flowers  smaller  in  A.  aegyptiaca.  A.  mgyptiaca  should  have  a 
warm  and  sunny  position  in  good  soil.  A.  Clavcnna?,  which  has  white 
flowers  and  hoary  leaves,  grows  about  10  inches  high,  and  is  a  favourite 
with  manv.  A.  Eupatorium — already  referred  to— is,  if  a  little  coarse,  a 
bold  plant,  having  brilliant  yellow  flowers  in  corymbs  4  or  5  inches  across, 
which  last  in  flower  for  a  considerable  time.  In  the  back  of  the  border 
it  forms  one  of  tho  showiest  of  the  border  flowers  from  June  to  September. 
Tho  recognised  name  of  this  species  is  now  A.  filipendulina,  but  it  is 
generally  grown  under  that  here  given.  A.  millefolium  roseum  is  an  old 
and  favourite  plant,  whose  bright  rose  coloured  flowers  are  often  very 
useful  for  cutting.  It  grows  from  1  to  2£  or  3  feet  high.  Its  fault  is  its 
running  habit.  Two  very  useful  plants  for  cutting,  and  both  valued  on 
account  of  their  white  flowers,  are  A.  ptarmiea*fl.-pl.  and  A.  serrata.  Of 
those  there  are  several  varieties.  A.  p.  Tho  Pearl  is  one  of  the  best  of 
these. 
There  are  some  pretty  Milfoils  of  much  use  for  the  front  of  tho  borders 
ns  well  as  for  rockwork  edgings  to  the  same.  A.  agerntioides  with  silvery 
foliage  and  whito  flowers  is  good  for  this  purpose.  A.  Herba-rota  is  also 
of  value  in  a  warm,  sunny  position,  and  has  a  pleasant  aromatic  odour 
when  touched.  Tho  flowers  of  this  species  aio  white.  A.  tomentosa, 
another  dwarf  species,  has  yellow  flowers  and  downy  foliage.  A.  umbel- 
lata,  with  white  flowers  and  silvery  foliage,  is  prized  because  of  the  latter. 
These  should  have  sunny  positions  in  light  soil.  The  Achilleas  are 
readily  increased  by  cuttings  or  division.  They  may  also  bo  grown  from 
seeds. 
ACIPHYLLAS. 
One  of  this  genus  is  popularly  known  in  New  Zealand  as  the  Bayonet 
Plant— a  name  likely  to  be  recognised  as  the  popular  designation  for  tho 
members  of  the  genus  when  more  generally  seen  in  gardens.  As  yet  tho 
Aciphyllas  are  seldom  seen  except  in  rock  gardens,  but  they  also  form 
very  distinct-looking  plants  in  a  dry  border  of  light  soil  in  full  sun.  Here 
they  could  be  used  to  advantage,  and  would  help  to  give  a  garden  a 
more  distinct  character.  The  two  Aciphyllas  most  easily  obtained  are 
A.  Colensoi  and  A.  squarrosa.  The  first  of  these  sometimes  reaches  a 
largo  size  and  forms  a  bush  of  long,  bayonet-like  leaves  with  sharp 
points,  and  having  flowering  stems  with  white  flowers  and  spiny  leaflets 
reaching  from  6  to  9  feet  high. 
