April  17,  1902.  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  339 
ing  tlie  young  trees  over  to  the  tender  mercies  of  experienced 
farmers  before  they,  the  trees,  are  almost  capable  of  taking  care 
of  themselves.  A  pity  it  is  so  few  other  landlords  have  followed 
this  excellent  example. 
Not  only  has  the  education  of  farmers’  sons  been  sadly 
neglected  in  the  matter  of  hardy  fruit  culture,  but  I  think  it 
equally  monstrous  and  surprising  that  this  branch  of  farming  has 
been  systematically  ignored  at  all  our  higher  class  Agricultural 
Colleges.  Agents  galore  are  turned  out  by  these  institutions,  but 
what  do  they  know  about  this  great  industry  of  fruit-growing  ? 
Great  opportunities  have  been  missed.  Will  th.e  authorities  in 
(luestion  ever  wake  up  to  their  responsibilities  and  emerge  from 
the  grooves  and  traditions  handed  down  to  them  by  previous 
\  *' 
Iris  Warleyensis,  a  new  species. 
generations  of  masters?  Luckily,  the  more  practical,  go-ahead 
class  of  men  now  largely  engaged  in  the  fruit  growing  industry 
are  independent  of  landlords  and  their  agents. — W.  Iggulden. 
Iris  Warleyensis. 
This  beautiful  new  species  of  Iris  was  exhibited  before  the 
Floral  Committee  of  the  Koyal  Horticultural  Society  by  Miss 
Willmott  on  March  8  and  March  25,  and  on  the  latter  date  a  First 
Class  Certificate  was  awarded.  This  is  one  of  a  number  of  plants 
secured  by  Mr.  J.  Hoog,  of  Haarlem.  Iris  Warleyensis  was 
found  in  Bokhara,  Western  Turkestan,  and  belongs  to  the 
Juno  section  of  the  genus.  The  stems  and  leaves  are  smooth, 
shining,  and  of  a  pleasant  bright  green.  The  flowers  are  soft 
azure  blue,  the  recurving  sepals  tipped  with  purple,  but  the 
standards  are  depressed  and,  inconspicuous.  Our  illustration  is 
from  a  sketch  by  Mr.  George  Shayler. 
The  Phyllocacti. 
Possibly  the  Phyllocacti  are  the  showiest  of  those  singular 
succulent  plants  belonging  to  the  natural  order  Cactacese, 
indigenous  to  Brazil  and  Mexico.  Flowering  as  they  do  in  spring, 
the  blossoms  comprising  colours  ranging  from  white  to  scarlet, 
these  grotesque  yilants  are  invaluable.  The  interest  taken  in  these 
plants  has  decreased  during  recent  yeai's.  I  attribute  this  to  the 
fact  of  their  being  too  easy  to  grow ;  the  tendency  nowadays  is 
to  discard  plants  wliich  any  amateur  can  grow,  and  cultivate 
simply  those  that  require  above  the  average  attention.  As  to 
the  merits  qr  drawbacks  of  this  system  I  do  not  propo.S6  to  dwell 
in  this  article,  my  aim  being  rather  tO'  increase  the  interest 
taken  in  these  lusus  naturae. 
When  the  native  habitat  of  a  plant  is  fully  considered,  there 
need  be  no-  apprehension  as  to*  the  treatment  they  require  when 
grown  artificially.  Let  us  apply  this  theoi'y  to  the  growth  of  the 
Phyllocactus.  Being  indigenous  to  tropical,  drj^  climates^ — 
Brazil  and  Mexico — obviously  the  position  they  require  is  that 
of  a  dry  stove_,  and  to  this  latter  circumstano«  i*ay  be  attributed 
the  decrease  in  their  cultivation,  for  the  plant  stove  nowadays 
requires  much  more  atmospheric  moisture  riian  stove  plants  had 
formerly,  when  the  atmosphere  was  of  a  di-y,  parching  nature, 
extremely  conducive  to  the  production  of  red  spider  and  kindrea 
pests. 
Propagation  and  General  Culture. 
As  regards  propagation,  they  are  best  struck  in  spring  before 
growth  conunences,  from  cuttings  of  the  mature  shoots — 5in  to 
din  long.  Fill  3in  and  4in  pots  with  a  compost  of  a  very 
porous  nature,  consisting  of  good  loam,  with  a  liberal  supply  of 
crushed  brick  rubble  and  sand  mixed,  and  insert  the  cuttings 
firmly,  placing  them  in  a  teinpei'ature  of  GOdeg.  They  require 
no  more  water  than  is  requisite  in  keeping  the  soil  just  moist. 
Neither  is  it  a  good  plan  to  place  them  under  bellglasses,  as  it 
induces  rotting.  A  mild  hotbed  suits  their  requirements  best 
until  they  are  rooted.  "When  the  pots  are  filled  with  roots, 
remove  the  plants  to  those  of  a  larger  size.  Provided  they  are 
struck  in  a  3in  pot.  Sin  pots  will  be  ample.  Anything  in  the 
shape  of  overpotting  must  be  studiously  avoided.  The  same 
compost  may  be  used  as  previously,  care  being  taken  to  ensure 
perfect  drainage.  They  should  be  grown  through  the  summer  in 
a  moderate  heat.  An  unlimited  supply  of  sun  heat  may  be 
allow'ed,  together  with  abundance  of  air,  but  no  artificial  shade. 
The  supply  of  w'ater  may  be  increased  in  proiDortion  to  the  root 
action,  but  at  no  time  in  their  histoi'y  shouia  an  over-abundance 
of  water  be  provided,  preference  being  given  to  dryness  than 
otherwise.  Should  the  plants,  after  they  have  started  into 
growth,  not  show  a  disposition  to  form  side  shoots,  the  point  of 
the  leader  must  be  pinched  out  in  order  to  induce  them  to  break 
back. 
During  winter  keep  them  cooler,  in  a  temperature  of  45deg  to 
50deg,  and  decrease  the  water  supply.  About  the  latter  end  of 
February  place  the  plants  in  the  stove  to  start,  and  when  growth 
has  fairly  commenced,  provided  the  pots  are  well  filled  with  roots, 
they  may  be  shifted  into  those  of  a  larger  size,  using  the  soil 
previously  recommended.  All  through  the  summer  allow  the 
plants  to  have  the  full  power  of  the  sun,  either  indoors  or  outside 
in  a  southern  aspect,  moving  them  indoors  once  more  in  Sep¬ 
tember,  placing  them  in  a  cool  house,  and  wintering  as  pre¬ 
viously.  Start  the  plants  early  in  spring,  in  order  to  allow  them 
ample  time  to  make  their  growth  before  they  are  placed  outside, 
and  also  to  ensure  their  being  perfectly  ripened  before  the  sun’s 
power  w’anes.  It  is  not  often  that  the  plants  flower  before  they 
grow  to  a  considerable  size,  although  a  few  blossoms  may  be  had 
from  young  well  ripened  growths.  But  the  cultivator  will  be 
rew'arded,  provided  the  plants  have  had  a  course  of  treatment 
similar  to  the  above,  by  a  large  quantity  of  gorgeous  coloured 
flowers,  the  true  character  of  the  plants  being  seen  Avhen  they 
have  grown  to  large  proportions.  As  regards  the  treatment 
necessary  for  the  plants  in  future  years,  nothing  more  is  required 
than  the  requi.site  shifting  to  larger  pots,  and  the  necessary  con¬ 
ditions  essential  to  plant  life  to  ensure  their  longevity.  To 
recapitulate,  the  essential  points  necessai-y  to  ensure  success 
are : — 
1.  A  dry  atmosphere. 
2.  The  cuttings  struck  in  a  hotbed,  and  not  under  a  bell- 
glass. 
3.  A  limited  supply  of  water  must  be  given,  especially  in 
winter. 
4.  Overpotting  must  be  studiously  avoided,  as  this  and  the 
above  two  items  are  favourable  to  rotting. 
5.  Thoroughly  ripen  the  growths  during  summer,  to  ensure 
supply  of  flowers. 
6.  In  order  to  find  out  the  real  character  of  the  plants,  carefully 
attend  to  minor  details. — J.  Denman,  Brynbella,  Tremeirchion, 
St.  Asaph. 
