August  3,  1899. 
94 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE 
AND  COTTAGE 
GARDENER. 
1'"1  can  everyone  fail  to  admire  the  tints  given  by  the  varieties  of 
A.  ehilensis,  and  A.  revoluta  provides  a  deep  orange  colouring  which 
effective  in  the  border.  This  species  is  apparently  as  hardy  as 
those  picccding,  but  it  has  not,  so  far  as  one  knows,  been  tested  to  the 
snmo  extent.  A  few  days  ago,  in  response  to  a  request,  the  writer 
lud  a  very  interesting  note  regarding  the  Alstrdmerias  in  the  ncigh- 
bouihood  ol  Aberdeen.  It  came  from  an  experienced  gardener  who 
takes  much  interest  in  hardy  Mowers— Mr.  W.  Angus,  Norwood.  lie 
infers  favourably  to  their  behaviour  in  the  north-east,  and  from  the 
wist  of  Scotland  1  have  several  correspondents  who  speak  with 
enthusiasm  about  the  Alstrdmerias.  It  must  not  be  taken,  however, 
that  they  will  do  well  everywhere.  Such  is  not  the  case.  One’s 
experience  hero  is  that  some  go  off  without  apparent  cause,  and  in 
a  sandy  subsoil  they  seem  to  dwindle  away. 
Man}  aic  the  Lilies  of  the  time  in  gardens  where  their  fine  blooms 
are  appreciated.  So  trustworthy  and  so  beautiful  is  the  hybrid 
Odium  testaceum  (syns.  excelsum  and  isabellinum),  that  one  hopes 
the  newer  hybrids  will  prove  as  satisfactory,  though  it  can  hardly  be 
said  that  they  aio  as  beautiful,  'i  et  there  is  much  that  is  attractive 
abaiit  L.  Dalhansoni  and  L.  Marhan,  both  of  which  are  hybrids  of 
b.  Hansoni  and  Ii.  Martagon,  although  the  former  has  for  one  of  its 
j  m  nts  the  fine  dark  form  of  Martagon  called  Dalmaticuru,  and  the 
latter  comes  from  the  white  Martagon  and  Hansoni.-  L.  Burbanki,  Mr- 
either  Burbank’s  hybrid  botweeu  L.  Wasbingtonianum  and  L.  parda- 
mnm,  is  giving  satisfaction  to  those  who  have  grown  it  this  season, 
ovv  that  the  beauty  of  tho  Lilies  is  with  us  it  will  not  entirely  depart 
until  tho  last  blooms  of  L.  speciosum  sink  into  decay  in  tho  autumn 
montl  s. 
I  It  lie  Liliums  are  so  beautiful,  of  fascinating  charms  are  the 
ymphacas.  As  one  looks  upon  tho  few  plants  in  one’s  own  garden 
will)  their  white  waxen  flowers,  or  beautifully  coloured  and  tinted 
only  tiit,  hand  of  Nature  can  colour,  wo  foci  that  wc  must  urge 
upon  others  to  grow  the  exquisite  now  Water  Lilies  of  the  day- 
runny  are  so  handsome  in  their  foliage  and  habit  of  growth 
t  iat  they  would  give  pleasure  from  that  alone,  but  when  to  this 
is  added  the  glory  of  such  lovely  flowers,  tho  combination  is 
irresistible,  and  wo  drink  in  their  loveliness  with  deepiest  enjoy¬ 
ment.  I  recently  saw  a  little  artificial  lakelet  in  which,  with  ample 
8]  ace  between,  were  Nymphteas  Marliacea  albida,  N.  M.  carnea, 
am  N.  M.  chromafella.  Tliero  they  wore1,  little  floating  islets  of 
exquisite  leaves  which  wero  girt  about  and  jewelled  with  flowers  so 
air  that  no  words  are  at  command  fit  to  convey  their  marvellous 
'eauty.  On  tho  smooth  water,  so  mirror-like  in  their  stillness,  they 
floated. 
Iliinkmg  of  the  ethereal  loveliness  of  the  Nymphmas,  we  look 
uilf-rehelliously  upon  that  of  gayer  border  ilowors.  In  the  border 
ef?re  nie  as  1  wri(e  ^ere  is  a  great  branched  yellow  Mullein  with 
w  utened  leaves.  It  is  Verbascum  pulverulentum,  a  noble  species. 
only  ,i  bietniil,  hut,  ns  it  sows  itself  when  under  favourable 
conditions,  lt'is  well  worth  growing  where  tho  Mulleins  are  cared  for- 
A  pretty  one  named  V.  Lychnitis  was  sent  me  from  Carton  recently, 
together  with  V.  Hookeri,  brighter  yellow  than  V.  pulverulentum, 
which  is,  by  the  way,  also  named  Y.  floccosum. 
Lxquisite  in  many  gardens  now  are  Ksempfer’s  Irises,  but  in  view 
of  the  appearance  of  Rev.  J.  B.  M.  Camm’s  enjovable  paper  in 
the  Journal  one  need  only  refer  to  them.  Handsome  yet  are  the 
Delphiniums,  and  when  evening  comes  beside  them  open  the  pale, 
soft,  yellow  flowors  of  tho  biennial  Evening  Primrose,  (Enothera 
Lamarcldana.  This  is  finer  than  the  ordinary  <E.  biennis.  Cam¬ 
panulas  yet,  and  for  some  time  to  come,  will  yield  us  their  cup-shaped 
or  bell-like  blooms.  Hardy  Orchids  with  spotted  spikes  look  up  from 
dampish  spots.  Germ  iums  add  their  share  of  colouring  to  the  scene. 
Sedunis  andtSempervivums,  twin  succulents,  with  fleshy  stems,  upraise 
lluir  flowers.  I  hero  is  a  phalanx  of  floral  glory  in  varied  and  motley 
array.  Clematis,  Lychnis,  Coronilln,  Scabiosa,  Galoga,  Viola,  Eryngium, 
Lychnis,  Astrantia;  these  aro  their  regimental  names,  but  all  support 
tho  reign  of  Queen  Summer,  with  all  its  glory,  its  wealth,  and  its 
sweet  enjoyment. — S.  Arnott. 
PINCHING  FRUIT  TREES. 
Mr.  II.  Mitchell  is  a  bold  man,  who  evidently  adopts  a  peculiar 
method  of  his  own  wlun  conducting  a  ccntroversy.  On  page  48  be 
lias  the  audacity  to  record  his  experience  with  a  Pear  tree  which  has 
been  pinched  for  ton  years,  and  still  remains  barren ;  yet  be  would 
have  us  regard  this  as  an  argument  in  favour  of  summer  pinching, 
because  in  ten  years  lie  has  covered  the  tree  with  spurs  having  dor¬ 
mant  fruit  buds.  But  fruit  growers  strive  to  obtain  buds  which  will 
blossom  and  bear  fruit.  Lot  us  be  fair,  however,  and  make  due 
allowance  for  tho  fact  that  the  tree  in  question  was  planted  under 
unfavourable  conditions;  but  if,  as  Mr.  Mitchell  supposes,  this  tree 
could  by  “  lifting  and  planting  under  the  best  conditions”  be  made  to 
blossom  profusely,  why  not  do  so  instoad  of  wasting  more  time  iu 
pinching,  and  valnablo  garden  spiace  in  growing  a  barren  tree  ? 
“  I  think  the  more  spurs  we  add  to  a  tree,  provided  the  tree  is 
planted  under  favourable  cunditiens,  the  more  fruit  buds  are  likely  to 
be  produced,  and  I  shall  go  on  pinching.”  With  these  pertinent 
remarks  Mr.  Mitchell  concludes  his  article,  which  at  least  shows  him 
to  be  a  close  observer  if  not  a  logical  reasoner.  Unfoitunately  for  bis 
arguments  there  are  thousands  of  trees  in  this  country  which  have 
been  planted  under  the  best  conditions,  and  by  constant  pinching  have 
been  brought  into  a  barren  condition ;  too  many  spurs  have  been  formed, 
the  branches  are  a  thicket  of  them,  and  need  thinning  freely  to 
make  such  trees  fruitful.  Covering  a  tree  in  one  instance  with 
spurs,  and  in  another  with  healthy  fruit  blossoms,  are  totally  different 
matters. 
Let  it  not  be  supposed  that  I  am  entirely  opposed  to  summer 
pinching,  as  it  is  an  excellent  practice  under  certain  circumstances. 
Wl  at  is  wanted  is  a  clearer  idea  as  to  the  extent  to  which  it  should  be 
carried  out  on  trees  grown  in  various  forms.  Tho  real  value  of  pinch¬ 
ing  is  in  the  cace  of  trees  giown  on  the  restrictive  system.  Take,  for 
instance,  trees  trained  to  walls.  It  is  then  necessary  to  secure  fruit 
buds  near  tho  main  branches,  and  in  order  to  do  that  we  must  pinch 
and  prune  closely,  because  a  tree  naturally  makes  growth,  and  then 
forms  fruit  buds  more  or  less  throughout  the  whole  length  of  long 
shoots,  and  at  the  points  of  short  stubby  ones,  provided  such  shoots  are 
kept  thinly  disposed  to  facilitate  wood  ripening.  Now,  in  case  of  trees 
on  walls,  these  shoots  must  at  some  time  be  shortened  back,  for  tho 
sake  of  rearing  a  trained  tree.  It  iherefore  becomes  apparent  that  we 
must  coerce  Nature  into  forming  buds  at  the  point  required.  Summer 
pinching  and  winter  shortening  will  undoubtedly  do  this  by  concen¬ 
trating  the  sap  at  tho  base  of  the  sboo’s.  We  train  the  tree  in  an 
artificial  way,  and  must  perforce  result  to  artificial  means  of  securing 
blossom  buds  close  to  the  n.ain  branches.  Let  it  be  clearly  understood 
that  the  pinching  in  such  cases  is  performed,  not  to  hasten  blossom  bud 
formation,  but  to  secure  such  in  the  desired  positions.  To  carry  this 
system  out  successfully,  root-prunirig  and  spur-thinning  must  be 
periodically  practised,  or  barren  trees  will  in  time  to  tho  inevitable 
result. 
Now  let  us  turn  to  bush  or  pyramidal  trained  trees,  which  may  be 
regarded  in  exactly  the  same  light  as  cordons  on  walls,  except  that  the 
forms  of  the  t.iecs  are  different,  as  here  again  we  aim  at  producing 
blossom  buds  close  to  a  Limited  number  of  main  branches,  and  to  do 
this  pinching  and  close  pruning  are  necessary.  This  system  of  fruit 
growing  is,  however,  totally  distinct  from  what  is  known  as  tho 
extension  system,  a  method  by  which  we  grow  trees  in  a  more  natural 
way  in  the  foim  of  standards  or  bushes,  and  allow  fruit  buds  to  form 
in  a  natural  way,  assisting  Nature  only  to  the  extent  of  thinning  the 
branches  lrcely,  or  stopping  a  leader  to  equalise  growth,  and  I  am 
convinced  that  it  is  through  not  clearly  recognising  the  distinction 
between  these  two  Bystems  that  so  many  misconceptions  have  arisen 
in  regard  to  summer  pinching. 
Carrying  the  matte  r.a  little  further,  we  will  endeavour  to  elucidate 
which  of  the  above  systems  is  productive  of  the  best  results  for 
gaidcns  generally.  I  unhesitatingly  say  tho  latter.  For  covering  walls 
we  must  stick  to  the  restriction  system,  unless  appearances  need  not  he 
studied,  ami  for  small  gardeus  where  a  number  or  varietj'-  of  Applies 
and  Pears  are  required  to  be  grown  in  a  limited  space,  the  system  also 
offers  great  advantages,  hut  for  producing  fine  fruit  iu  abundance 
with  a  minimum  outlay  in  labour,  the  extension  system  cannot  he 
beaten.  I  could  quote  many  instances  in  suppoit  of  this  contention, 
hut  one  will  suffice.  In  one  of  tho  best  managed  fruit  gardens  in 
England  twenty  years  ago  all  the  trees  were  kept  closely  pinched  and 
pruned,  and  were  trained  in  so  skilful  a  way  that  their  equals  could 
scarcely  he  four.el  in  Britain.  Grand  fruit  was  also  grown  which  seldom 
took  second  place  at  the  great  shows,  but  the  weak  point  was  tho 
crops  were  too  light.  Since  that  time  the  trees  have  been  allowed  to 
grow  freely,  no  pinching  is  practised,  but  the  branches  are  kept  well 
thinned  out,  and  some  of  them  slightly  shortened  iu  winter.  The 
same  number  of  trees  now  produce  three  times  tho  amount  of 
fruit  than  they  over  did  under  the  old  method  of  management, 
and  the  finest  specimens  hold  their  own  against  all  comers  at  notable 
shows. 
