December  18,  llKlO. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
f.29 
It  is  not  now  difficult  to  make  up  a  stand  of  thirty-six  incurved 
varieties,  quite  independent  of  the  Queens,  which  is  a  plain  proof 
of  the  advance  made  in  this  section.  Many  fine  stands  have  been  seen 
during  the  past  season  of  incurved  blooms,  but  in  several  instances 
I  noted  there  was  too  great  a  tendency  towards  size  at  the  expense  of 
form,  which  is  u  ually  knoAn  as  neatness  and  finish  in  the  petal. 
Judges  in  some  cases  showed  too  much  leaning  to  size,  at  the  expense 
of  qual  ty.  If  they  would  set  their  faces  at  ail  times  against  roughness 
and  favour  quality  we  should  quickly  see  a  general  improvement  in 
this  section.  Although,  as  I  previously  stated,  the  members  of  the 
Queen  of  England  family  are  not  essential  to  make  up  a  representative 
stand  of  incurved  blooms,  it  is  pleasing  to  note  that  on  many 
occasions  during  the  late  season  I  noted  numerous  commendable 
•examples  of  this  ty|e.  Especially  noteworthy  were  blooms  of  Gulden 
Empress  and  Alfred  Saber,  which,  to  the  admirers  of  this  favourite 
section,  was  distinctly  pleasing,  and  buoying  them  up  with  the  hope 
that  ere  long  we  shall  see  a  general  resuscitation  of  this  family. 
Oue  important  point  to  cogitate  upon  is  whether  the  general 
interest  is  maintained  in  the  shows  throughout  the  country.  Tnis 
point  interests  the  managers  of  all  sccleties.  Here  and  there  instances 
of  a  want  of  competition  could  be  found,  but  in  all  cases  a  reason  could 
be  found.  A  lack  of  encouragement  in  substantial  prizes,  convenience 
of  site,  and  the  inclement  weather  at  the  time,  are  all  causes  of 
disappointment.  When  we  take  into  consideration  the  adverse 
weather  prevailing  at  the  time,  it  cannot  be  said  that  societies  in 
general  were  not  substantially  supported  by  the  public.  Even  il  the 
first  day  was  a  financial 
failure,  the  second  day’s 
takings  were  frequently  a 
full  compensation.  From 
personal  experience  I  have 
no  hesitation  in  saying 
that  the  interest  in  Chrys¬ 
anthemum  culture  and  ex¬ 
hibiting  is  well  maintained 
in  spite  of  what  some 
writers  would  have  us 
believe. 
Have  we  learnt  anything 
of  import  ince  in  the  man¬ 
agement  of  societies  or  in 
the  staging  of  blooms  that 
can  be  termed  an  advance 
or  an  advantage  ?  is  the 
next  point  to  consider. 
Speaking  impartially,  but 
with  ample  opportunities  of 
observation  in  many  parts 
ol  the  country,  I  assert  that 
the  lessons  gained  have  been 
few  and  the  advancement 
small.  Everyone  will  have 
noticed  the  continued  de- 
•c  ease  of  admiration  for  the 
orthodox  method  of  staging 
Japanese  blooms.  We  march 
slowly  in  staging,  but  every  year  we  have  further  proof  of  the  useless 
system  of  staging.  It  cannot  be  denie  i  that  the  cup  and  tube  and 
stand  are  advantageous  in  showing  the  individual  quality  of  the 
blooms.  For  hiding  defects,  too,  they  are  perfect,  especially  in  the 
case  of  stale  florets  bad  centres,  or  unevenness  in  “  build.”  The 
increasingly  popular  system  of  displaying  the  blooms  of  this  section  in 
vases,  baskets  and  otherwise  has  much  to  recommend  it,  especially  as 
illustrating  the  value  of  Japanese  Chrysanthemums  for  home  use 
and  public  display.  Whether  the  vases  should  include  suitable 
greenery  is  a  question  for  the  near  future.  Personally,  I  think 
some  variation  might  usefully  and  safely  be  employed  in  the  methods 
adopted. 
The  present  rage  is  for  large  blooms.  This  is  quite  right  when 
quality  is  also  taken  into  consi  oration.  Size  is  the  leading  attribute 
to  be  sought  for  in  the  quality  of  a  bloom,  as  it  is  in  a  bunch  of 
Grapes,  a  plant,  or  an  Union.  This  dominating  feature  must,  however, 
be  aco'mpinied  by  excellence  of  colour,  form,  and  grace,  with  substance 
of  petal.  Few  societies  give  sufficient  encouragement  to  the  varieties 
known  as  “  decoratives  ” — those  not  large  enough  to  be  admitted  to  the 
exhibition  arena.  What  could  be  more  handsome,  interesting, 
instructive,  and  useful  than  masses  of  such  varieties  as  Source  d’Or 
and  Its  sports,  Lizzie  Adcock,  Roi  des  Prdcocds,  Lady  Selborue,  and 
the  various  single-flowered  varieties  like  Mary  Anderson,  Purity,  and 
Souvenir  de  Londres  for  example?  There  is  no  denying  the  interest 
taken  in  such  a  display.  I  do  not  advocate  the  employment  of  any 
one  section  or  method  of  exhibiting,  all  are  beautiful  when  properly 
taken  in  hand,  and  should  be  encouraged  for  their  usefulness.— 
E.  Molyneux. 
PlantiDg  Fpnit  Trees, 
The  planting  of  fruit  trees  in  the  autumn  as  soon  as  the  leaves 
commence  falling,  and  even  with  a  few  green  leaves  at  the  points  of 
the  shoots,  is  unquestionably  an  excellent  practice,  for  then  the  ground 
is  warm,  faiily  moist,  and  readily  workable.  Trees,  therefore,  carefully 
lifted,  the  roots  protected  from  the  drying  influences  of  the  atmosphere, 
and  not  kept  out  of  the  ground  for  any  great  length  of  time,  take  to 
warm  moist  soil  at  once,  ai  d  experience  no  check  but  of  a  salutary 
nature,  especially  if  there  be  a  full  complement  of  healthy  fibrous  roots. 
Preparing  the  Ground. 
The  ground  for  fruit  should  be  deeply  dug,  bastard  or  full  trenched, 
whether  rich,  poor,  or  of  medium  quality.  In  the  case  of  poor  soil  a 
moderate  amount  of  manure  may  be  mixed  with  the  subsoil,  incor¬ 
porating  well,  but  it  must  be  sparingly  used  in  the  surface  soil,  and  in 
a  thoroughly  decayed  ^state.  A  soil  rich  in  organic  matter  will  need 
little  addition  for  the  early  growth  of  fruit  trees  ;  indeed,  it  is  best  to 
encourage  only  a  medium  growth  of  wood,  but  a  free  extension  of 
fibrous  roots.  A  2-feet  depth  of  soil  will  meet  the  full  requirements 
of  fruit  trees  if  the  subsoil  below  is  sufficiently  loose  to  permit 
superfluous  moisture  to  drain  away.  If  the  soil  is  shallow  increase  its 
depth  if  possible,  even  if  some  of  the  barren  soil  has  to  be  removed. 
If  possible  substitute  good  loam  of  a  holding  chvracter,  and  mix  with 
the  best  ot  the  staple.  On  damp,  badly  drained  sites  the  soil  must  be 
raised  above  the  level,  in 
order  to  provide  a  warmer 
and  drier  position  for  the 
roots,  and  prevent  their 
descent  into  the  subsoil. 
It  is  advi>able  in  such  cases 
to  provide  stations  for  the 
trees  6  or  8  feei  in  diameter 
instead  of  raising  the  whole 
body  of  soil ;  the  base  should 
be  drained  with  a  foot  depth 
of  rubble,  this  being  under¬ 
drained  to  carry  off  super¬ 
fluous  water. 
As  regards  thp  materials 
for  borders,  I  have  not  found 
anything  better  than  good 
fertile  garden  soil  previously 
enriched  and  well  worked, 
the  change  from  vegetables 
to  fruit  trees  being  of  a 
very  favourable  nature.  Oa 
shallow  land  the  inferior 
subsoils  may  be  advanta¬ 
geously  removed  to  such 
extent  as  to  admit  of  re¬ 
planting  with  good  top  spit 
mould,  adding  to  it  some 
turf,  wood  ashes,  and  old 
mortar  rubbish,  intermixing 
well.  This  is  particularly  advisable  if  the  planting  of  stone  fruits  is 
contemplated  and  the  soil  is  deficient  in  calcareous  matter. 
Fruits  for  Walla  of  Different  Aspects. 
Specially  prepared  borders  either  in  the  open  in  suitable  places  and 
against  wails  afford  good  positions  for  the  choicer  fruit,  all  aspects 
being  suitable  for  some  kind  of  fruit  or  other.  South,  south-east,  and 
south-west  aspects  are  the  m  st  suitab'e  for  Apricots,  Figs,  Grapes, 
Peachc'',  and  Nectarines  where  these  succee  1  outdoors.  lu  localities 
where  they  do  not  the  space  may  be  occupied  with  the  mist  se'ect 
varieties  of  Apples,  Cherries,  Pears,  and  Plums.  Eistern  aspects 
answer  best  for  Plums,  and  western  ones  for  Pears.  Northern 
positions  suit  Morello  Cherries,  late  Gooseberries,  and  Currants.  The 
best  form  of  trees  for  walls  are  esp  slier,  cordon,  and  fan-shaped. 
Comparatively  narrow  strips  of  ground  in  favourable  situations  in  the 
open  miy  be  occupied  with  espalier  trees,  as  well  as  cordons,  trained 
to  wire  fences,  also  bush  and  pyramid  trees.  In  many  cases  the 
borders  selected  need  little  preparation  beyond  deeply  digging  or 
trenching,  working  the  soil  thoroughly  at  least  2  feet  deep,  but  not 
bringing  stubborn  material  to  the  surface.  In  unfavourable  subsoils 
draining  is  imperative. 
Width  of  Borders  for  Fruit  Trees. 
The  width  of  fruit  tree  borders  will  be  regulated  by  the  quality  of 
the  soil  and  the  ultimate  size  of  the  trees.  As  a  rule  the  width 
corresponds  to  the  height  of  the  wall,  fence,  or  espalier,  as  the  roots 
extend  as  wide  laterally  as  the  branches.  The  large.st  trees  trained  on 
the  highest  walls  certainly  require  a  border  of  9  to  10  feet  width,  the 
Fig.  135. — CypaiPEDinM  James  Buckingham.  (See 
