November  18,  1897. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
489 
LONDON  TREES  AND  FLOWERS. 
The  Fall  of  the  Leaf. 
“  Dead  leaves  wisper  !  ’’  So  ran  a  legend  which,  some  years  ago, 
was  found  chalked  in  rude  letters  on  a  London  wall.  The  inscription, 
whether  written  as  fact  or  allegory,  is  the  true  comment  on  that 
mysterious  undertone  which,  during  late  October,  the  hreeze  sings 
nightly  through  the  winnowed  trees.  Autumn  hears  it,  and  foreseeing 
the  end,  blanches  a  little  through  her  crimson  patches.  Worn  out  with 
husbandry,  the  earth  listens  and  grows,  almost  imperceptibly,  more  still. 
And  London,  robbed  of  her  green  ornament,  puts  on  a  coat  of  grey  and 
turns — shivering — to  face  November. 
Once  a  year,  at  least,  Londoners  wake  to  the  fact  that  their  city  is 
a  port,  and  a  near  neighbour  of  the  sea.  The  discovery  is  made  when 
a  North  Sea  fog  drifts  over  the  Essex  marshes  and,  descending  on  the 
City,  shuts  out  the  day.  It  is  said  that  a  “  London  particular  ”  does  no 
harm  to  a  healthy  man,  but  its  effect  on  vegetable  life  is  disastrous. 
The  mixture  of  acids  contained  in  the  vapour  kills  off  most  leaves  in  a 
few  hours  ;  and  the  breeze  which,  before  the  visitation,  swept  through 
the  foliage  with  no  effect,  now  reaps  a  faded  harvest  with  every  breath. 
Strictly  speaking,  London  has  no  autumn,  'though  the  other  seasons  are 
each  so  clearly  marked.  Spring  comes  early,  and  very  green.  The 
Elms  and  Limes  in  the  City,  the  Lilac  and  the  Almond  in  suburban 
gardens,  are  out  and  blooming  long  before  their  country  cousins  are 
astir.  In  summer,  spring  renews  itself  most  wonderfully  in  the  Planes 
which,  with  the  Ash  and  the  Acacia,  are  greenest  and  fullest  at  the  end  of 
.Tune.  But  autumn — golden  autumn — hardly  exists  in  town.  The  leaves 
die  suddenly,  as  if  a  pestilence  had  touched  them,  while  country  hedge¬ 
rows  are  still  aflame.  This  year  decay  set  in  unusually  early.  The 
Limes  were,  as  usual,  the  first  to  go.  The  Lime  is  a  craven  in  this 
respect,  and  strikes  his  colours  at  the  first  hint  of  the  approach  of  frost. 
Two  trees  in  Gray’s  Inn  gardens  were  shedding  their  leaves  quite 
early  in  September.  By  Michaelmas  the  Ash  and  Elm  were  in  full 
retreat.  Only  the  Planes  and  the  Lombardy  Poplars  withstood  the 
onslaught  of  their  adversary.  Winter,  and  now — in  the  first  week,  of 
November— the  former  still  makes  a  fight  of  it  against  night  frost  and 
morning  fog. 
The  giant  trees  in  Berkeley  Square — undoubtedly  the  finest  group  of 
Planes  in  London — are  still  u  ell  covered,  though  the  broad  leaves  are 
tipped  with  red  and  yellow,  and  the  fruit  buttons  hang  brown  and 
withered  from  their  stems.  Indeed,  if  “Leafy  London”  is  ever  to 
deserve  the  name  Leigh  Hunt  bestowed  on  her,  it  will  be  by  the  help  of 
the  Planes.  The  Elms  are  dying  out.  This  year,  even  in  the  parks,  the 
leaves  grew  rusty  as  early  as  .Tuly,  and  the  light  yellow  colour— an  early 
autumn  dress— never  appeared  at  all.  There  can  be  little  satisfaction  for 
tree  lovers  in  the  poor  scarred  trunk  in  Fountain  Court.  Temple,  which 
seems  to  mock  the  queenly  beauty  of  the  country  Elm.  The  Chestnuts 
also  are  in  the  same  condition.  There  are  not  half  a  dozen  left  outside 
the  parks,  while  the  Willows  and  Sumachs  (both  of  which  are  planted 
about  London  squares)  are  a  distressing  sight  for  anyone  who  recalls 
their  size  and  freshness  when  they  grow  in  country  air.  It  is  the 
thought  of  these  starvelings,  and  others  like  them,  that  causes  one 
to  watch  with  grave  anxiety  the  health  of  that  do5mn  among  London 
trees— the  Wood  Street  Plane.  It  is  sad  to  see  the  old  giant  show  some 
symptoms  of  decay.  Eumour  says  that  it  was  planted  immediately  after 
the  Great  Fire.  It  looks  as  if  two  centuries  of  drought  and  smoke  had 
begun  to  tell  their  tale.  This  season  some  of  the  branches  at  the  top  did 
not  bud.  Many  of  the  leaves,  too,  faded  before  the  summer  s  end,  and, 
worse  than  all,  the  old  tree  no  longer  sheds  and  renews  its  bark  with  the 
vigour  of  a  few  years  ago.  Alay  Time  deal  gently  with  the  veteran,  for 
]irobably  no  tree  of  such  a  size  and  majesty  will  ever  bloom  again  in  a 
I.ondon  street ! 
It  is  plain  that  London  in  autumn  is  a  borrower  of  other  nations  for 
her  natural  ornament.  Her  finest  trees  are  Persian,  and  her  flowers  are 
.Japanese.  For,  except  the  Violets,  there  is  nothing  in  the  streets  but 
the  Chrysanthemum.  Even  for  City  buttonholes  it  is  the  only  wear. 
The  long-petalled  Japanese  variety  was  almost  the  only  blossom  to 
be  seen  in  Fleet  Street  when  these  researches  were  made.  Covent 
Garden,  in  the  early  morning,  told  the  same  story.  The  flower  market 
brimmed  over  with  Chrysanthemums  of  many  colours.  “We  are 
selling  blooms  at  a  penny,”  said  a  salesman  (without  enthusiasm), 
“which  two  years  ago  would  have  fetched  sixpence  apiece.  Millions 
pour  in  here  every  week.”  The  flower  market  revealed  a  wonderful 
sight.  It  was  a  mass  of  riotous  colouring  and  patchwork  hues. 
Here  was  a  foam  ot  white  petals  ;  next  a  great  bank  where  red  lay  mixed 
with  yellow,  and  purple  mingled  with  pale  pink.  There  was  a  sea  of 
palest  lilac,  splashed  with  a  deeper  mauve.  At  one  end  stood  a  great 
cluster  of  plants,  whose  petals  were  golden  bronze,  with  a  fleck  of  scarlet 
at  the  heart.  It  was  as  if  autumn  had  touched  a  liliputian  woodland  with 
a  finger  of  flame.  Other  flowers  one  noticed  afterwards — Violets,  Lilies, 
Poses,  and  many  more.  But  the  blaze  of  the  Chrysanthemums  eclipsed 
these  English  posies,  for  a  time.  One  other  beautiful  foreigner  was  found 
— a  branch  of  White  Lilac  from  Southern  France.  “  White  Lilac,”  said 
its  exhibitor,  “  always  spells  winter.  We  shall  have  no  new  English 
flowers  until  the  Snowdrops  and  Crocuses  come  in.” 
Surely  winter  comes  with  a  good  grace,  wearing  White  Lilac  next 
the  Holly’s  green  and  red.  And  Snowdrop  and  Crocus  are  names  with 
which  to  conjure  from  the  fog’s  black  mist  some  faint  yet  fragrant 
vision  of  another  spring. — (“  Daily  Telegraph.”) 
THE  YOUNG  GARDENERS’  DOMAIN. 
Clerodendeox  Balfouriaxhji. 
This  stove  plant  is  worth  a  place  in  any  collection  on  account  of  its 
great  beauty  and  free-flowering  properties.  It  is  one  of  those  few  plants 
which  possess  such  a  strong  contrast  of  colour,  the  flower  itself  being  pure 
white,  while  the  stigma  and  stamens  are  bright  red.  The  flowers,  which 
are  small,  are  borne  in  clusters,  and  when  trained  balloon  fashion,  the 
effect  IS  grand.  Another  good  quality  is  the  plants  last  a  very  Ion? 
time  in  bloom.  j  e. 
Like  Allamandas,  they  require  a  period  of  rest.  To  this  end  water 
must  be  gradually  withheld,  and  the  plants  afforded  the  lightest  place  in 
the  stove  to  insure  the  wood  being  properly  matured.  By  the  first  week 
plants  maybe  removed  to  an  intermediate  house,  with 
sufficient  water  to  prevent  the  soil  in  the  pots  becoming  du.st  dry.  In  early 
spring  remove  the  plants  again  into  the  stove,  repotting  any  that  may 
require  it,  using  a  compost  of  loam,  peat,  cow  manure,  and  sand,  with 
ample  drainage.  Give  abundance  of  water  during  the  growino-  season, 
with  an  occasional  dose  of  weak  liquid  manure.  ° 
If  it  is  intended  to  increase  the  stock,  cuttings  should  be  taken  as  soon 
as  procurable,  and  when  placed  in  small  pots  in  sandy  soil  in  the  jiropa- 
gating  pit  they  will  soon  root,  and  with  the  ordinary  care  bestowed  upon 
stove  plants,  will  make  nice  plants  suitable  for  placing  into  8-inch  pots 
the  following  spring.  With  attention  to  details,  handsome  and  valuable 
specimens  can  be  formed  in  a  few  years.  I  find  the  best  method  of  train¬ 
ing  young  plants  the  first  year  is  on  perpendicular  wires  at  one  end  of  the 
stove.  This  variety  requires  little  or  no  pruning, — Youngster. 
Winter-flowering  Tree  Carnations. 
There  are  few  plants  so  useful  at  this  time  of  the  year  as  Carnations, 
Their  comparatively  eas^  culture  and  free-flowering  habit  ought  to 
insure  their  more  extensive  cultivation,  especially  by  those  who  cannot 
liave  houses  dev'oted  to  the  iVTalmaison  varieties.  I  believe  they  are  more 
serviceable  for  decorative  purposes,  and  may  be  used  for  the  conservatory, 
to  which  they  add  a  charming  effect.  A  model  tree  Carnation  is  a  plant 
from  2  to  3  feet  in  height,  bushy,  with  numerous  side  growths  sprino-inw 
from  the  main  stem,  vigorous  in  babit  and  profuse  in  bloom.  ° 
Cuttings  for  early  winter  flowering  should  be  inserted  in  small  60-pots, 
about  the  middle  of  November  or  early  in  December.  Select  side  growths 
with  a  heel  of  the  old  wood,  place  five  around  the  edges,  plunge 
them  in  a  brisk  bottom  heat  of  about  70°  to  75°,  and  keep  the  plants 
close  for  a  time,  but  do  not  allow  them  to  droop  if  possible.  A  suitable 
compost  for  cuttings  is  good  yellow  sandy  loam,  leaf  soil,  and  sand  in 
equal  parts  ;  and  care  must  be  taken  that  the  base  of  the  cutting  rests 
firmly  on  the  bottom  of  the  hole.  The  soil  should  be  in  a  somewhat 
moist  condition,  to  preclude  the  necessity  of  watering  for  a  considerable 
time.  Each  day  carefully  wipe  all  moisture  from  the  top  of  the  glass 
to  prevent  drip,  removing  decayed  leaves  as  soon  as  discovered. 
Immediately  root  action  has  commenced  admit  air  freely. 
Those  inserted  in  November  ought  to  be  ready  for  potting  singly  early 
in  .January,  uEen  other  cuttings  should  be  inserted.  When  the  plants 
are  established  remove  to  a  temperature  of  about  50°  by  night,  and  5° 
higher  in  the  day,  with  air  to  prevent  the  plants  becoming  drawn.  The 
grower  will  have  to  keep  a  sharp  look  out  for  green  fly,  which  will  quickly 
ruin  the  young  plants,  but  the  pest  is  easily  exterminated  by  the  XL 
fumigator  or  insecticide.  Keep  a  watchful  eye  on  the  young  plants,  and 
do  not  allow  them  to  become  root-bound,  or  they  will  experience  a  check 
when  repotted.  By  February  the  earliest  plants  ought  to  be  ready  for 
repotting,  using  5  and  6-inch  pots  according  to  the  size  of  the  plants.  A 
further  stock  of  cuttings  should  be  inserted  some  time  in  IMarch  and 
treated  as  previously  advised. 
The  main  object  of  the  grower  ought  to  be  to  have  his  plants  growing 
steadily,  and  to  keep  them  as  sturdy  as  possible.  Careful  attention  must 
always  be  paid  to  watering,  which  is  certainly  one  secret  of  success. 
Abundance  of  air  should  be  given  on  all  favourable  occasions.  AVhen  the 
warm  weather  sets  in  the  plants  will  do  well  in  cold  frames.  For  the 
final  potting  use  a  compost  of  three  parts  yellow  fibrous  loam,  one  peat, 
about  the  same  of  sheep  manure  rubbed  fine,  with  one  quarter  mortar 
rubbish,  wood  ashes,  and  a  sprinkling  of  bones  (half-inch),  and  charcoal. 
The  syringe  may  be  used  twice  daily  in  favourable  weather,  which  will 
keep  green  fly  and  thrips  at  bay. 
If  the  plants  are  free  from  parasites  it  will  be  a  pleasure  to  watch  the 
development  of  the  leaves,  and  their  colour  will  be  a  rich  glaucous  green. 
By  the  end  of  IMay  the  lights  may  be  removed  in  the  daytime,  and  in 
.June  they  may  be  left  off  altogether  for  a  time  if  the  season  is  dry.  As 
the  pots  get  full  of  roots  give  an  occasional  watering  of  clear  soot  water 
and  liquid  manure,  with  a  top-dressing  of  Clay’s  fertiliser  about  once  a 
fortnight. 
All  late  plants  should  be  in  their  flowering  pots  by  August.  The 
flower  buds  must  be  neatly  staked,  and  when  this  is  done  the  plants  may 
be  ]iut  inside  to  develop  their  flowers.  Abundance  of  air  should  at  all  times 
be  admitted.  In  order  to  get  flowers  of  good  quality  disbudding  will  have 
to  be  practised.  Daring  the  winter  months  pay  careful  attention  to 
watering,  and  see  that  none  is  watered  unless  well  on  the  dry  side,  using 
rain  water  if  possible.— J.  F.  D.,  Yoi'ks. 
TRADE  CATALOGUES  RECEIYED. 
Austin  &  IMcAslan,  Glasgow. — Nursery  Stock, 
Fotheringham  &  Young,  Dumfries. —  Ornamental  Trees. 
E.  C.  Notcutt,  Broughton  Eoad  Nurseries,  Ipswich. — Chrysanthemums, 
Eivoire  &  Son,  16,  Eue  d’Algerie,  Lyon,  France. — Novelties. 
