'366 
October  26,  18S9. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
"blossom  buds  formed  on  a  short  sturdy  shoot,  6  being  the  fuller  and 
stronger  of  the  two.  The  whole  of  these  buds  have  formed  on  wood 
which  will  be  two  years  old  next  summer,  and  they  have  been 
produced  quite  as  freely  on  the  majority  of  shoots  of  the  same  age  on 
the  tree  from  which  the  shoot  illustrated  was  cut.  The  branches  on 
this  tree  are  thinly  disposed,  and  I  note  that  the  current  year’s  growth 
on  the  greater  number  of  shoots  varies  from  6  to  9  inches,  a  few  being 
somewhat  longer. 
The  question  I  now  put  is,  When  such  wood  and  buds  can  be 
secured  without  pinching,  what  is  the  use  of  pinching,  except  in  the 
case  of  trees  trained  on  the  restriction  system  ? — H.  Dunkin. 
A  PLEA  FOR  THE  USE  OF  BRITISH  WILD 
FLOWERS  IN  THE  GARDEN. 
The  subject  which  I  am  allowed  to  introduce  to-night  was 
suggested  by  an  incident  which  occurred  last  summer.  A  foreign 
visitor  to  ray  nurseries  in  the  leafy  and  floriferous  month  of  June 
remarked  frequently,  when  specially  beautiful  objects  were  brought 
to  his  notice,  “  Yes,  pretty ;  but  weeds,  mere  weeds.” 
Well,  11  weed  ”  is,  after  all,  ODly  another  name  for  an  indigenous 
plant  which  is  out  of  place  amongst  garden  and  farm  crops,  however 
beautiful  it  may  appear  in  its  own  element,  and  it  then  struck  the 
floricultural  part  of  my  conscience  whether  we  as  gardeners  had  not 
neglected  many  beautiful  British  plants  in  our  eagerness  for  novelties 
for  enriching  our  gardens,  which  “  foreigners  ”  were,  of  course,  weeds 
in  their  native  lands.  Then  a  vision  of  many  lovely  combinations  in 
Dame  Nature’s  landscape  gardening  rose  before  me;  for  instance,  next 
to  my  farm  is  a  Chestnut  wood,  on  sandy  soil,  where  the  background 
was  the  tender  young  foliage  of  the  Spanish  Chestnut,  while  the 
foreground  was  a  mass  of  the  wild  Hyacinth — the  Bluebell  of  one’s 
childhood — which  for  some  three  weeks  maintained  its  enchanting 
display,  and  as  it  faded  a  graceful  crop  of  Campion  (Lychnis  diurna) 
succeeded  it,  and  formed  an  equally  charming  effect.  In  another  case, 
for  some  half  mile  ahead,  while  travelling  in  Wilts,  I  saw  a  mass  of 
rosy  purple  peeping  out  between  the  dark  green  foliage  and  nut-brown 
boles  of  a  Scotch  Fir  grove.  Here,  to  my  surprise,  the  ground  was 
covered  with  Epilobium  angustifolium,  and  my  driver  said  it  was  thus 
glorified  every  season.  These  are  only  two  examples  of  many  hundreds, 
as  before  a  body  of  horticultural  experts  I  need  hardly  mention  the 
Buttercup  fields  and  the  Piimrose  and  Anemone  woods. 
I  shall  rather  call  to  mind  some  wild  British  plants  that  seem  to 
me  deserving  of  garden  culture,  if  not  in  the  herbaceous  border,  yet 
as  masses  in  the  wild  garden  and  woodland  walks  where  clumps  of 
introduced  exotics  seem  to  mock  the  natural  sylvan  beauty.  It  has 
been  noticed  that  masses  of  the  same  colour  frequently  follow  each 
other,  yellow  being  the  prevailing  late  spring  colour,  while  blue  is  the 
first  in  the  series  and  yellow  returns  again  in  the  autumn.  One  reason 
for  the  neglect  of  wild  flowers  is  doubtless  the  difficulty  of  collecting 
the  plants  at  the  right  season  for  transplanting,  when  many  are  lost 
among  the  surrounding  herbage  and  grasses  ;  but  probably  the  best 
method  would  be  to  collect  their  seeds  and  sow  them  in  beds  for 
transplanting  afterwards.  One  knows  from  experience  that  few  plants 
collected  on  holidays  ever  come  to  perfection. 
It  may  be  as  well  to  start  with  spring  flowers,  among  which  the 
blue  Hyacinth  before  named  holds  a  conspicuous  place,  and  may  well 
be  massed  in  the  front  portions  of  shrubberies  or  underneath  deciduous 
shrubs,  as  they  can  there  be  at  home,  and  not  in  any  way  interfere 
with  garden  flowers.  The  Primrose  can  be  naturalised  in  any  moist 
position,  and  should  not  be  shocked  by  contact  with  the  coloured 
garden  types,  as  its  simplicity  and  its  mode-t  beauty  need  only  its 
own  foliage  as  a  relief;  we  must  not  omit  Violets  and  the  later  Dog 
Yio'lets,  while  the  Germander  Speedwell  (the  Cat’s-eye  of  the  children) 
is  a  weed  with  remarkably  striking  blue  flowers,  and  patches  on  the 
rockery  will  not  ba  out  of  place.  The  Yellow  Nettle  (Galeobdolon)  is 
one  of  our  first  spring  flowers.  I  have  noted  in  a  park  entrance 
large  masses  of  the  Bugle  (Ajuga)  produce  a  pleasing  effect,  and  I 
have  noted  a  white  form,  and  one  of  a  pinkish  shade.  While  on  the 
subject  of  woodland  drives  and  grassy-edged  roads  leading  to  mansions, 
I  may  mention  that  much  of  the  beauty  of  the  natural  flora  is 
destroyed  by  too  close  mowing,  and  would  suggest  that  a  12-feet 
bordering  is  enough  to  be  mown,  and  beyond  that,  if  cut  over  or 
cleared  once  a  year  the  natural  flowers  would  flourish  in  the  grass, 
and  lend  a  charm  to  the  scenery,  and  in  a  small  way  reproduce  an 
Alpine  meadow.  Here  Cowslips,  Cuckoo-flowers  (Cardamine),  the 
Centaury,  Bugle,  and  Prunella,  with  the  Primrose  and  yellow  Toadflax 
are  seen  to  advantage  with  patches  of  wild  Pleather  and  Foxgloves. 
In  summer  the  wild  Orchises  give  us  both  striking  flowers  and 
interesting  species  for  massing  and  special  positions.  0.  mascula  and 
its  numerous  varieties  are  good,  and  I  have  seen  0.  maculata  in 
Scotland  called  0.  magnifiea,  which  was  specially  grand.  The  Butterfly 
Orchis  (Habenaria),  with  its  elegant  spikes  of  pale  scented  Primrose 
flowers,  delights  in  a  shady  nook.  The  Twayblade,  the  Man  Orchis, 
and  the  less  common  0.  fusca,  0.  pyramidalis ;  while  Ophrys  apifera, 
O.  muscifera,  and  0.  latifolia  are  worth  close  inspection,  and  for  shady 
places  the  Epipactis  are  well  worth  prepared  stations  in  the  garden, 
giving  them  leaf  soil,  chalk,  or  sandy  loam  as  required.  Trollins 
europseus  is  already  an  established  garden  favourite,  while  the  Foxglove 
(Digitalis)  is  one  of  our  grandest  natives,  and  can  be  easily  propagated 
by  seed,  and  forms  glorious  masses  for  backgrounds.  The  Mulleins  are 
worthy  of  culture,  with  their  flannel-like  foliage  and  long,  conspicuous 
flowering  spikes  of  yellow  blooms.  The  Teazle  is  a  bold  plant  for  a 
bed,  and  is  not  only  pretty  in  flower,  but  fine  subjects  for  winter 
decoration  are  provided  by  its  honeycomb-like  heads  of  seed-vessels. 
What  shall  I  say  for  the  Corn  Poppy,  with  its  glorious  scarlet 
flowers  all  too  evanescent?  We  must  always  have  a  tender  remem¬ 
brance  of  this  as  the  parent  of  our  super-elegant  Shirley  Poppies.  In 
the  west  the  yellow  Welsh  Poppy  is  frequent  near  streams,  and  there 
is  nothing  in  rich  blue  flowers  that  can  approach  the  Viper’s  Bugloss, 
seen  in  masses  on  sand  and  shingle  near  the  sea ;  it  is  superb,  and 
deserves  a  prepared  spot  in  the  garden,  where  its  gorgeous  racemes 
can  be  thoroughly  enjoyed.  For  a  border  plant  Geranium  pratense, 
with  its  lavender  flowers,  is  well  known.  The  various  Hawkweeds 
(Mouse  and  Cat’s-ears)  are  pretty  yellow  and  primrose  flowers.  The 
wild  Balm,  Melittis,  is  a  fine  plant  for  banks,  and  runs  into  many 
varieties.  For  positions  under  trees  the  Periwinkles,  major  and 
minor,  are  suitable,  and  look  well  all  the  year  round ;  while  Melam- 
pyrum  sylvaticum,  the  Wood  Cow-wheat,  is  fine  in  masses.  In  North 
Wales  there  seems  to  be  a  larger  variety  than  is  found  in  Kentish 
woods.  The  Maitrank  or  Woodruffe  also  makes  a  pretty  carpet  plant, 
and  in  early  spi  ing  the  yellowCelandine  is  very  bright. — (Paper  read  by 
Mb.  George  Bunyard,  V.M.H.,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Horticultural  Club.) 
(To  be  concluded.) 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
DRILL  HALL. — October  24th. 
The  display  in  the  Drill  Hall  was  a  moat  excellent  one,  and  comprised 
exhibits  of  exceptional  diversity  and  interest.  Both  fruits  and  vegetables 
were  exceptionally  good,  as  were,  for  the  time  of  year,  Orchids.  Chrys¬ 
anthemums  were,  of  course,  in  great  form. 
Fruit  Committee. — Present :  P.  Crowley,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  5  with 
the  Rev.  W.  Wilks  and  Messrs.  R.  Parker,  J.  Cheal,  W.  Poupart,  M.  Glee- 
son,  W.  Pope,  A.  Dean,  S.  Mortimer,  W.  Bates,  0.  Herrin,  J.  Smith,  F.  Q. 
Lane,  G.  Reynolds,  R.  Fife,  and  G.  Bunyard. 
Messrs.  H.  Cannell  &  Sons,  Swanley  and  Eynsford,  staged  a  splendid 
collection  of  vegetables  from  ,the  firm’s  Eynsford  nurseries.  A  con¬ 
siderable  amount  of  space  was  worthily  occupied,  and  would  have  been 
more  appreciated  if  a  more  prominent  position  in  the  hall  had  been  at 
disposal.  The  Potatoes  comprised  forty  varieties,  and  included  Satis¬ 
faction,  Snowball,  Perfection,  Up-to-Date,  Snowdrop,  Lord  Tennyson, 
Windsor  Castle,  Hearts  of  Oak  (new  and  attractive),  Come  to  Stay, 
Schoolmaster,  Pride  of  Tonbridge,  Pink  Perfection,  and  Cannell’s  Seed¬ 
ling.  Then  there  were  Onions  Ailsa  Craig,  Cranston’s  Excelsior,  and 
Cocoa  Nut ;  Carrots  Cannell’s  First  Prize  and  Prizewinner  ;  Parsnips 
Cannell’s  First  Prize  ;  Leek  Cannell’s  Mammoth  ;  Beet  Exhibition  ;  Cab¬ 
bage  Cannell’s  Defiance ;  [Cauliflower  Autumn  Giant ;  Savoy  Cannell’s 
Drumhead,  with  Gourds,  large  and  small,  for  diversity. 
Mr.  W.  Pope,  gardener  to  Lord  Carnarvon,  Highclere  Castle,  sent  a 
collection  of  vegetables  of  excellent  quality.  The  best  dishes  were 
Onions  Ne  Plus  Ultra.  Aristocrat,  Ailsa  Craig,  and  Excelsior  ;  Potatoes 
Abundance,  London  Hero,  Reading  Russet,  and  Ideal ;  Carrots  Scarlet 
Model,  Perfection.  Long  Red  Surrey,  and  Early  Gem  ;  Brussels  Sprouts 
Dwarf  Gem  and  Exhibition  ;  Parsnips  Dobbie’s  Selected  and  Tender  and 
True  ;  Savoy  Green  Curled  ;  Cucumbers  Model  and  Sensation  ;  Tomatoes 
Best  of  All  and  Polegate  ;  Celery  Early  Rose  and  A1  ;  and  Cauliflower 
Autumn  Giant.  Mr.  Will  Tayler,  Hampton,  Middlesex,  staged  six 
bunches  of  Grapes  Reine  Olga  from  outdoor  Vines. 
A  collection  of  Apples  was  shown  by  Mr.  C.  Herrin,  Dropmore, 
Maidenhead.  The  specimens  were  clean  and  of  medium  size,  and 
included  such  varieties  as  Cox’s  Pomona,  Peasgood’s  Nonesuch,  Lane’s 
Prince  Albert,  Tyler’s  Kernel.  Newton  Wonder,  Grenadier,  Lord  Derby, 
Gloria  Mundi,  Wellington,  Warner’s  King,  Golden  Noble,  and  Beauty 
of  Kent,  with  a  dish  of  Brahy’s  Late  Gage  Plums.  Mr.  Marcham, 
gardener  to  J.  Warren,  Esq.,  Handcross,  Sussex,  contributed  a  collection 
of  Apples  and  Pears.  The  best  of  the  former  were  Gloria  Mundi,  Betty 
Geeson,  Annie  Elizabeth,  New  Ilawthornden,  Ribston  Pippin,  The  Queen, 
Peasgood’s  Nonesuch,  Warner’s  King,  and  Cox’s  Pomona.  Of  Pears,  the 
best  were  Marguerite  Marrilat,  Doyenn^  Boussoch,  Durondeau,  Louise 
Bonne  de  Jersey,  Fondante  d’Automne,  and  Knight’s  Monarch. 
Apples  were  well  shown  by  Messrs.  J.  Laing  &  Sons,  Forest  Hill. 
The  collection  comprised  Lord  Suffield,  Blenheim  Pippin,  Gloria  Mundi, 
Queen  Caroline,  Warner’s  King,  Lane’s  Prince  Albert,  Peasgood’s  None¬ 
such,  Lord  Derby,  Bramley’s  Seedling,  Golden  Noble,  Striped  Beefing, 
Wellington,  Tom  Putt,  and  American  Mother.  Mr.  G.  Wythes,  V.M.H., 
gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland,  Syon  House,  Brentford, 
exhibited  Apples  and  Pears  in  some  considerable  numbers.  The  best  of 
the  latter  were  Pitmaston  Duchess,  Doyenne  du  Cornice,  Marie  Louise, 
Beurre  Superfin,  Beurr6  Diel,  Emile  d’Heyst,  and  Conference.  The  pick 
of  the  Apples  were  Blenheim  Pippin,  Cellini.  Alfriston,  Lane’s  Prince 
Albert,  Lord  Suffield,  Belle  Dubois,  Warner’s  King,  and  Lord  Derby. 
