March  6,  1902r. 
^20-2  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  UABDENER. 
Taking  into  account  the  Aveek  and  Sundav  duty  and  the  un- 
reniunerated  overtime  of  summer,  it  is  only  reasonable  that 
gardeners  should  display  a  due  consideration  for  the  young  men 
under  them.  A  great  many  of  such  there  are,  and  it  must  be 
equally  Avell  known  that  a  proportion  of  Britain’s  gardeners  are 
not  moved  by  honest  effort  on  the  part  of  their  nien  sufficiently 
to  afford  them  a  corresponding  return  of  appreciation.  I  feel 
fully  persuaded,  however,  that  tliere  is  often  aii  ecpiality  of  fault, 
thougli  uiiadiuitted  soinetiiiies,  and,  as  previously  intimated, 
friction  could  be  stayed,  dissatisfaction  allayed  in  iiiany  instances, 
if  only  superiors  rvere  approached  in  a  proper  spirit,  and  their 
grievances  or  their  needs  were  respectfully  aired.  1  he  world 
is  made  up  of  such  varied  factions  that  it  is  beyond  hope  for 
gardener  born,  or  yet  unborn,  to  please  every  bothjunan,  but 
much  may  be  done  that  is  not  done  on  both  sides. — S. 
Certificated  Plants.  . 
The  Magnolia. 
This  genus  which  comprises  some  noble  plants  of  great  beauty 
of  flower  and  even  foliage,  have  from  time  to  time  gained  recogni¬ 
tion  from  the  Iloyal  Horticultural  Society.  The  Chinese  \ulan, 
M.  conspicua,  is,  fi’om  its  great  beauty  and  floriferousness, 
almost  supreme  among  spring-flowering  trees.  Unfortunately, 
when  in  the  very  height  of  its  attractiveness,  its  large  white 
blossoms  are  liable  to  be  tarnished  by  frosts,  and  as  the  leave.s  do 
not  appear  until  after  the  flowers,  no  protecting  shelter  is  thus 
afforded.  The  normal  habit  of  this  Magnolia  is  that  of  a  large 
bush;  but  when  it  forms  a  tall  tree  similar  to  the  splendid 
example  on  the  terrace  of  Gunnersbuty  House,  it  becomes  a  con¬ 
spicuous  object  among  other  leafless  trees.  M.  Lennei,  which 
obtained  a  First  Class  Certificate  of  Merit  rvlien  shown  as  far 
back  as  1863  by  Mr.  William  Paul,  though  reported  to  have 
resulted  from  a  cross  betw’een  the  Japanese  M.  obovata  and 
hi.  conspicua,  is  now  regarded  as  a  variety  of  the  latter,  the 
petals  being  exteriorly  tinged  with  purplish  pink.  In  1878 
hi.  stellata,  shown  by  hlessrs.  Veitch  and  Sons  as  hi.  Hallcana, 
obtained  a  First  Class  Certificate.  It  is  deciduous,  blooming  in 
hlarch  and  April,  before  the  leaves  fully  develop.  It  is  well 
worthy  of  cultivation  as  a  pot  plant,  as  it  blooms  in  a  young  state. 
A  variety  named  rosea,  having  blossoms  much  tinted  with  pink, 
gained  a  First  Class  Certificate  in  1893,  rvlien  shorvn  by  hlessrs. 
Veitch  and  Sons,  who,  in  the  same  year,  gained  a  similar  award 
for  hi.  hypoleuca,  which  is  a  natirm  of  Japan,  and  is  considered 
one  of  the  stateliest  of  the  deciduous  hlagnolias,  and  an 
exceptionally  fine  tree  for  the  park  and  landscape.  The  flowers 
are  creamy  white  A^■ith  pui'iile  anthers,  and  they  are  freely  pro¬ 
duced  on  adult  trees.  hi.  parviflora,  from  the  same  firin,  rvas 
similarly  awarded  a  Certificate  in  1894.  It  is  also  a  native  of 
Japan,  where  it  forms  a  small  tree  or  shrub  of  j)leasing  outline 
when  clothed  rvith  its  noble  foliage.  The  flowers  are  white,  and 
they  appear  with  the  leaves. 
Malva  and  Marigold  (Tagetes). 
The  Avhite  variety  of  hlusk  hlallorv  (Malva  moschata)  received 
a  First  Class  Certificate  of  hlerit  in  1881,  Avhen  shown  by  Mr. 
Henry  Cannell.  It  is  an  excellent  hardy  perennial,  blooming 
with  great  freedo*m,  and  successionally.  It  makes  a  fine  bunch 
for  exhibition  purposes,  and  it  seeds  freely.  In  1872  I  exhibited 
a  dwarf  double  yellow  form  of  French  hlarigold,  under  the  name 
of  Aurea  floribunda,  and  obtained  for  it  a  First  Class  Certificate 
as  a  desirable  bedding  plant.  Fifteen  years  later  it  rvas  again 
shown  by  hlessi's.  Dobbie  and  Co.,  Rothesay,  and  received  an 
Award  of  Merit.  It  is  not  often  the  same  subject  .secures  two 
arvards  of  this  character.  Another  dwarf  form,  the  miniature 
orange  African,  secured  a  similar  arvard  for  Messrs.  Carter 
and  Co.  in  1885.  hlessrs.  Dobbie  and  Co.,  rvho  make  a  great 
speciality  of  their  African  hlarigolds,  which  they  have  greatly 
improved  of  late  years,  had,  in  1887,  First  Class  Certificates  for 
their  selections  of  lemon  and  orange  African  Marigolds.  Later 
in  time  the  popular  single  French  Marigold,  Legion  of  Honour, 
which  is  an  excellent  subject  of  a  riband  line,  received  an  award 
of  merit. 
Myosotidium  and  Myosotis. 
Occasionally  one  sees  the  one  representative  of  this  monotypic 
genus,  hi.  nobile,  the  Chatham  Islands  Forget-me-not,  shoAvn 
in  very  fine  character.  It  rvas  so  in  April.  1886,  when  Sir 
R.  Loder  sent  plants  to  the  R.H.S.,  and  obtained  for  it  a  Fir.st 
Class  Cei-tificate.  It  is  a  noble  herbaceous  pererinial,  nearly 
hardy,  very  difficult  to  cultivate,  and  most  impatient  of  root 
disturbance,  and  seems  to  do  best  in  a  cool,  damp  sheltered  spot 
out  of  doors.  It  is  a  curious  fact,  and  to  me  a  surprising  one, 
that  the  spring  flowering  hlyosotis  dissitiflora  has  never  received 
an  Award  from  the  Floral  Committee,  nor  its  fine  variety  Perfec¬ 
tion.  The  pretty  dwarf  hi.  rupicola  gained  a  First  Class 
Certificate  in  1865,  when  shorvn  by  hlessrs.  Backhouse  and  Son, 
of  York.  In  1891  Mr.  hV.  Marshall,  the  present  chairman  of  the 
Floral  Committee,  obtaiircd  an  Arvard  of  hlerit  for  Bexley  Gem, 
a  blue  flowered  variety  of  the  Victoria  type,  of  dwarf  and  com¬ 
pact  growth,  allied  to  hi.  alpestris,  the  Alp’ne  Forget-me-not; 
and  in  1896  M.  Rehsteineri  received  a  First  Clas.s  Certificate- 
when  shown  by  hlessrs.  Paul  and  Son.  Tliis  is  a  blue  flowered 
species,  very  dwarf,  and  forming  in  its  growth  moss-like  tufts.— 
R.  Dean,  V.hl.H. 
Pomological  Notes, 
Wall  Cases, 
These  are  admirable  means  of  growing  eboice  fruits- 
They  should  be  provided  with  both  top  aaid  bottom  ventilation, 
and  the  roof  lights,  excepting  the  ventilating  ones,  be  moveable.' 
I  have  tried  both  systems,  fixed  and  moveable  roof  lights,  and- 
find  the  latter  far  the  best.  The  roof  lights  are  taken  off  directly' 
the  leaves  of  the  trees  commence  falling,  and  off  they  remain^ 
until  the  bud.s  have  the  blo.ssom  peeping.  This  means,  with- 
Apricots,  replacing  the  lights,  a  month  or  more  earlier  than  for 
other  fruits,  and  nece.ssitates  having  the  trees  of  the  different 
kinds  in  conqiartments.  The  system  answers  admirably  for 
Apricots,  •  Avhich  produce  fruit  abundantly,  and  the  trees  are 
remarkably  healthy,  and  free  from  gumming  to  a  much  greater 
extent  than  those  on  open  walls.  Cherries  do  even  still  better 
than  Apricots,  giving  fruit  at  the  close  of  May  or  early  in  June 
in  forward  seasons,  and  which  can  be  kept  from  the  depredations- 
of  birds,  cracking,  or  spoiling  by  wet.  Plums  do  well,  and  are 
never  so  fine  and  luscious  as  when  grown  under  glass.  Peaches- 
and  Xectarines  afford  a  .supply  of  fruit  from  July  to  October 
inclusive.  Pears  revel  in  the  spring  time,  and  the  fruit  attains 
to  a  size  and  colour  seldom  seen  on  open  walls,  but  the  quality 
is  often  defective.  It  is  desirable  to  expose  the  trees  to  the 
Aveather  after  the  rveather  becomes  settled  in  June,  and  then  a 
crop  is  secured  rvith  quality  in  the  fruit.  The  better  plan  is  to 
grow  the  Pear  in  pots,  and  only  place  the  trees  under  glass  for 
and  securing  of  a  crop.  Figs  ripen  one  crop  of  fruit  in  August 
and  September ;  also  Grapes,  earlj'  varieties  of  the  latter  being 
■selected,  and  they  are  quite  as  good  as  those  produced  in  expen¬ 
sive  vineries.  Anything  in  the  way  of  pruning  should  be  com¬ 
pleted,  the  trees  and  structures  being  imt  into  proper  order. 
The  borders  of  houses  that  haAm  not  the  lights  removed  ma.A'^  need 
supplies  of  AA’ater,  so  as  to  bring  the  soil  into  a  moist  condition. 
Ventilate  freely,  so  as  to  retard  the  floAvering  to  as  late  a  period 
as  possible. — G.  A. 
The  Cherry  House. 
When  the  floAvers  are  perfect  and  the  fertilisation  effectual, 
the  Cherries  Avill  be  SAvelling  at  the  base  of  the  decayed  blossoms, 
then  syringing  may  be  resumed  once  a  day  until  the  remains  of 
the  floAvers  are  cast  off  and  the  AA^eather  is  clear  and  AAarm,  then 
syringing  on  the  moniing  and  afternoon  of  fine  days  maj'  be 
practised.  Fire  heat  Avill  only  ,  be  necessary  to  prevent  the 
temperature  falling  beloAV  40deg  at  night  and  to  maintain  50deg 
as  a  minimum  by  day.  Ventilate  at  50deg,  closing  at  the  same, 
regulating  the  A’entilation  according  to  circumstances,  but  not 
alloAving  a  rise  aboA-e  65deg  Avithout  full  ventilation.  If  green 
fly  appear  fumigate  the  house,  and  if  black  aphis  iiresents' itself, 
for  Avhich  a  sharp  look-out  should  be  kept,  assail  it  on  its  fir.st 
aiipearance  AA’ith  the  tobacco  Avater,  applied  AA'ith  a  bru.sh  to  tlie 
affected  parts.  The  foliage  must  be  kept  dry  Avhen  fumigation  is 
practised.  Keep  a  strict  look-out  for  grubs  or  caterpillars,  as  they 
roll  up  the  leaA^es,  and  must  be  crushed  or  searched  for  and 
destroyed.  Pinch  out  the  points  of  the  shoots  Avhen  they  luiA-e 
made  4in  to  5in  of  groAvth,  remoAung  those  shoots  that  are  not 
required.  Train  extensions  in  their  full  lengths ;  also  those  for 
filling  vacant  spaces.  OvercroAvding  must  be  strictly  guarded 
against,  it  being  lArejudicial  both  to  the  present  and  future 
crops. — G.  A. 
Potting  Pines. 
Once  the  suckers  and  other  plants  subjected  to  similar  treat¬ 
ment  start  they  make  roots  rapidly,  therefore  have  soil  ready 
for  transferring  them  to  the  fruiting  pots,  as  it  is  important 
that  they  be  grown  Avithout  check  by  being  either  root-bound  or 
dry.  Sound  fibrous  loam  in  good-sized  lumps  is  the  best  material 
for  potting,  rejecting  the  dusty  particles.  It  should  be  pressed 
firmly  round  the  balls  of  the  plants,  AA'atering  them  if  the  soil 
be  dry  (not  otherAvise)  Avith  tepid  Avater,  and  plunging  them  in 
a  bottom  heat  of  90deg  to  95deg  until  the  i-oots  have  possession 
of  the  fresh  soil,  Avhen  85deg  is- most  suitable.  The  top  heat 
should  be  maintained  at  60deg  to  65deg,  and  70deg  to  75deg  by 
day,  with  80deg  to  85deg  or  90deg  from  sun  heat. — P. 
Fruiting  Pine  Plants. 
Those  at  or  near  the  flowering  stage  should  liaA'e  a  night  tem¬ 
perature  of  G5deg  to  70deg,  and  75deg  by  day,  Avith  80deg  to 
90deg  from  sun  heat,  closing  at  85deg,  Avell  damping  all  Avails 
and  paths  at  the  same  time.  Succession  plants  may  haAm  a 
bottom  heat  of  about  85deg,  ventilating  at  80deg  and  closing  at 
85deg,  lightly  sprinkling  the  plants  occasionally.  A  genial 
atmosphere  should  be  secured  by  damping  the  floors  and  pit 
Avails  as  they  become  dry,  but  it  is  not  good  practice  to  syringe 
the  bed  betAveen  the  plants.  Examine  the  plants  once  a  AA  cek, 
and  supply  tepid  AA'ater  containing  a  little  stimulating  substance, 
such  as  guano  and  soot,  when  required. — Practice. 
