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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
October  8,  1903 
such  hands  among  his  own  trustworthy  men.  There  is,  how¬ 
ever,  a  great  deal  of  planting  done  throughout  the  country 
each  year,  under  the  superintendence  of  men  who  have  never 
had  any  practical  experience  of  such  work,  and  as  the  staff 
who  do  the  work  have  often  had  no  real  training,  and  are 
only  interested  in  earning  a  labourer’s  pay,  it  is  not  surpris¬ 
ing  that  the  results  are  frequently  disastrous  to  those  who 
have  to  pay  the  pi’-'er.  It  cannot  be  too  emphatically  stated 
that  anyone  who  has  planting  to  do  on  a  large  or  small  scale 
will  always  find  it  wise  ecouomy  to  employ  reliable  men  ;  in 
the  former  case  an  experienced  planter  who  will  see  that  the 
work  is  done  as  it  should  be,  or  have  the  whole  matter  carried 
through  by  a  nursery  firm  of  repute.  When  there  is  only  a 
little  to  be  done,  get  a  trustworthy  man,  who  knows  how  to 
plant  and  whom  you  can  trust  to  do  it  well.  After  such  a  man 
has  been  found  pay  him  well,  and  do  not  expect  him  to  use 
both  brains  and  hands  for  the  pay  of  a  labourer. 
Thousands  of  pounds  are  wasted  in  Britain  every  year 
over  planting  operations,  through  the  craze  for  cheapness. 
Trees  and  shrubs  are  picked  up  at  the  lowest  possible  cost, 
and  stuck  into  the  soil  by  under-paid  men,  who  know  very 
little,  and  care  less,  about  the  work  in  which  they  are 
engaged ;  and  thus  our  fruit  plantations,  woods  and  shrub¬ 
beries,  are  in  many  cases  glaring  examples  of  mismanage¬ 
ment.  Those  who  have  had  the  bitter  experience  of  having 
in  the  past  wasted  money  on  unsatisfactory  planting 
should  see  to  it  that  this  year  a  start  is  made  in  the  right 
direction,  and  that  the  well-known  methods  of  preparing  the 
soil  by  trenching,  or  by  making  holes  of  sufficient  size,  and 
securing  good  drainage,  are  not  neglected. 
Turning  to  the  subject  of  fruit  growing,  the  thought 
naturally  arises  how  far  will  the  past — to  many — disastrous 
season  affect  the  planting  of  fruit  trees?  Well,  my  firm  con¬ 
viction  is  that  there  is  only  one  condition  which  will  prevent 
intending  planters  from  carrying  out  their  plans,  viz.,  lack  of 
funds.  The  season  has  been  so  bad  that  many  growers  who 
make  a  practice  of  extending  their  plantations  each  year  will 
have  to  stay  their  hand  till  another  season.  Very  few  men 
who  understand  their  business  will  drop  making  extensions 
because  of  a  bad  year,  so  long  as  they  have  funds  at  com¬ 
mand,  because  they  know  that  after  a  couple  of  lean  years 
the  time  of  plenty  is  near  at  hand,  and  there  is  still  a  fine 
opening  for  the  grower  of  good  samples  of  English  Apples 
and  Pears  in  our  markets. 
Although  the  season  has  been  one  of  the  worst  on  record 
for  fruit  growers  generally,  some  have  been  fortunate,  and 
are  reaping  a  rich  harvest.  A  few  days  ago  I  saw  a  grand 
Pear  tree,  on  which  the  fruit  literally  hung  like  ropes  of 
Onions,  and  the  owner  calculated  he  should  get  nine  or  ten 
pots  of  fruit,  for  which  a  customer  had  already  been  found 
at  the  splendid  figure  of  25s.  per  pot.  The  same  tree,  I  was 
informed,  had  not  failed  to  bear  a  crop  annually  for  the  last 
ten  years.  The  variety  was  Thompson,  a  Pear  of  fine 
quality,  which  I  can  confidently  recommend  to  intending 
planters. 
In  another  case  I  found  a  fine  set  of  standard  Apple  trees 
growing  on  high  ground  in  an  exposed  position  carrying 
splendid  crops  of  extremely  fine  fruits.  Nearly  every  tree 
was  heavily  cropped,  and  I  jotted  down  sixteen  varieties  as 
being  in  that  condition.  This  planting  on  high  ground  is  a 
point  which  should  be  kept  constantly  in  mind  by  planters. 
Do  not  be  misled  by  results  during  one  or  two  favourable 
seasons.  We  all  know  that  the  land  in  the  valleys  is  generally 
better  than  that  on  the  hills,  and  will  give  grand  fruit  (as  a 
rule) ;  but  there  are  far  too  many  years  of  failure  through 
spring  frosts,  whereas  on  high  ground  the  blossoming  time  is 
retarded,  often  just  long  enough  to  escape  the  dreaded 
frosts,  and  the  wood  produced  in  exposed  positions,  being 
shortjointed,  always  ripens,  and  blossoms  well.  Truly  there 
is  much  to  be  said  in  favour  of  growing  a  fruit-tree — as  well 
as  an  individual — sturdily. — H.  D. 
Notes  from  Frencliay,  near  Bristol. 
In  the  neighbourhood  of  Bristol  are  necessarily  many  gardens 
ore  or  less  familiar,  from  the  fact  that  a  speciality  of  some  kind 
made  of  plant,  flower,  fruit,  or  vegetable  within  them.  It 
<vould,  I  think,  be  .safe  to  say  that,  numerous  as  are  the  gardens 
surrounding  this  notable  Western  city,  none  surpass  Malmains 
for  the  richness  of  its  one  distinguishing  speciality — Filmy  Ferns. 
Probably  nowhere  in  the  kingdom  is  there  to  be  found  .so 
large  collection  of  specimens  at  once  so  healthy,  so  large, 
or  so  liappily  accommodated.  What  makes  them  the  more  re¬ 
markable  is  that  Captain  Belfield,  whose  residence  Malmains  is. 
collected  and  brought  home  the  whole  of  these,  and  many  other 
plants  besides,  from  Australia  and  New  Zealand  many  years  ago.. 
Spring  rather  than  autumn  is  the  better  time  to  see  Todeas  in 
perfection ;  then  the  young  fronds  and  the  extremities  of  the 
older  ones  are  clothed  with  the  pale  green  verdure  such  as  no 
other  Fern  can  approach  nor  defy.  The  extremely  moss-like 
fineness  of  the  fronds  when  enclouded  in  mist  display  diamond¬ 
like  pendants  from  beneath  them.  On  a  summer’s  evening  a 
vi.sit  to  this  house  bsepangled  with  misty  dewdrops  gives  an  im- 
pre.ssion  of  coolness  and  sublimity  scarcely  known  to  greenhouse, 
and  comparable  only  to  the  hoar  frost  scenes  of  winter. 
The  house  itself  is  a  most  .simple  structure  ;  were  it  other¬ 
wise,  probably  some  of  the  noble  grandeur  of  the  plants  would 
be  lost,  and,  still  more  possible,  the  collection  would  long  since 
have  lost  much  of  its  fame  and  unique  progress  of  character. 
The  roof,  almost  flat,  is  supported  by  solid  and  deep  outer  walls, 
and  is  heavily  shaded  to  shut  out  every  vestige  of  a  possible 
sunray.  The  aspect  is  an  eastern  one,  and  the  use  of  fire  heat 
seldom  made. 
Few  probably  realise  the  extent  of  cold  these  Todeas  will 
endure;  but  Mr.  Bye,  the  able  gai'dener  in  charge,  as.sures  me 
that  except  in  the  most  severe  weather  no  warmth  from  the  pipe.s- 
is  given  until  morning,  and  then  only  for  an  hour  or  so.  Dew- 
drops  have  often  been  converted  into  icicles,  the  soil  in  the  pots 
too  hard  for  the  finger  to  make  an  inqrress,  and  the  surface  of  the 
fronds  wdiite  rather  than  densely  green — conditions  that  tend 
to  paralyse  with  fear  any  .save  those  who  have  grown  accus¬ 
tomed  to  the  scenes  in  winter  time.  Even  those  intimately 
concerned  would  voluntarily  prefer  to  find  the  frost  fiend  absent, 
but  it  has  been,  found  that  coolness,  even  if  it  touches  the 
frost  line,  is  better  than  the  other  extreme,  fire  heat  not  afford¬ 
ing  a  desirable  condition  for  these  notable  Filmy  Ferns.  They 
number  some  fifty  or  more  ;  none  of  them,  I  believe,  occupy  less; 
than  12in  pots,  while  the  larger  specimens  need  a  diameter  of 
twice  that  amount.  The  largest  raises  its  head  3ft  from  the 
soil,  and  has  a  growth  of  4ft,  with  a  spread  of  frond  proportionate 
to  its  height  and  size.  This  giant  is  of  the  variety  T.  pellucida, 
but  specimens  of  T.  superba  are  not  less  remarkable.  Beside 
these  varieties  there  are  T.  barbara  from  Australia,  and  T. 
hymenophylloides  from  New  Zealand. 
With  each  springtime  comes  a  crest  of  new  fronds;  the 
autumn  finds  a  corresponding  decrease  of  the  older  ones. 
Adjoining  is  a  large  tropical  hou.se  containing  many  more- 
issiies  of  the  Captain’s  re.searches  in  foreign  lands.  Some  have 
grown  too  large,  and  have  been  made  the  victim  of  the  “  wood¬ 
man’s  axe.”  Others  are  trending  upwards  and  recalling  the 
many  years  of  absence  from  their  native  homes.  Tree  Ferns 
such  as  Cyatheas  and  Dicksonias;  Palms  like  Areca  sapida, 
bearing  its  annual  seed  cluster  ;  Kentias  Fosteriana  and  Bell- 
moreana,  Dracseno  Draco,  Cycads,  Chaniaerops  excelsa,  Strelitzia 
regina,  Musa-like  in  size  and  vigour,  and  Araucaria  excelsa  are 
a  few  of  the  many  tropical  subjects  that  are  so  interesting. 
Lycopodiums  grow  splendidly  under  the  shade  of  the  Palms  and 
other  taller  plants,  and,  occupying  large  shallow  pans,  are 
made  conspicuous  by  their  luxuriance  and  proportions.  Adian- 
tums,  Davallias,  Nephi’olepis,  and  Microlepias  are  other  well- 
grown  plants,  a  fine  specimen  of  Adiantum  Mariesi  being  un¬ 
commonly  good. 
In  the  stoves  are  large  bright  specimen  Crotons  (Codiseums) 
Warreni,  Queen  Victoria,  majesticum,  and  others,  besides  a  host 
of  smaller  ones  in  greater  variety ;  Anthurium  crystallinum, 
Alocasia  metallica,  the  flowering  Anthuriums  Andreanum  and  A. 
Ferrieriense  are  fine ;  Allamandas  nobilis  and  magnifica,. 
Eucharis,  the  beautiful  Davallia  fijiensis  plumosa,  and  Nephror 
lepis  rufescens  tripinnatifidum  were  notable.  An  immense  Musa 
Cavendishi  grows  in  one  of  the  stoves,  and  in  the  same  house 
overhead  wires  support  many  Nepenthes,  growing  and  pitchering. 
well.  N.  Sedeni,  N.  Northiana,  N.  formosa,  N.  mixta  (good),  N. 
Morgani,  and  N.  Rafflesiana  are  some  varieties  grown. 
Of  Orchids  there  is  a  representative  collection,  embracing 
Dendrobes,  Angrgecums,  C'ypripecliums,  Odontoglossums,  Onci- 
diums,  and  many  others,  which  in  their  season  give  useful  flowers, 
for  cutting,  and  interesting  subjects  in  a  growing  state. 
In  the  greenhouses  are  specimen  Bougainvilleas,  Statices, 
Rondeletias,  Stephanotis  (this  grows  well  under  greenhouse  treat¬ 
ment,  flowering  abundantly  in  summer),  and  a  host  of  other 
kindred  plants.  Very  striking,  too,  were  the  Streptocarpus 
hybrids  growing  in  Sin  pots,  the  vigorous  leaves  recurving  so  that 
the  pots  were  almost  hidden,  and  the  flower  spikes  proportionate. 
Grapes,  Peaches,  Nectarines,  Melons,  Cucumbers,  and 
Tomatoes  give  of  their  abundance  in  their  seasson,  but  at 
Frenchay,  as  elsewhere,  outdoor  crops  felt  the  dire  effects  of  the 
spring  frosts,  and  prospects  for  the  winter  are  not  so  pleasant. 
Espalier  and  pyramid  Apples  and  Pears  do  well  in  the  red 
soil  of  Frenchay,  but  tliis  year  barrenness  predominates.  Mr. 
Rye,  for  more  than  twenty  years,  has  been  a  comstant  and 
successful  exhibitor  of  both  plants  and  fruit,  more  than  an 
average  share  of  silver  cups,  medals,  and  other  valuable  prizes 
bearing  credit  to  his  own  skill  as  a  cultivator,  and  the  generous 
interest  of  Captain  Belfield,  whom  he  has  so  long  and  so  worthily 
served. — W.  S. 
