rather under size. It is flattish, angular, and "purse-mouthed," or "puckered-crowned "—an old Scottish term for such kinds of apples, when a purse was a money-bag tied with a string, but one now seldom used by writers, though it might serve their purpose equally with that of a "closed eye in a basin crown." The colour of the Ten-Shilling is greenish russet, tinged with red where exposed to the sun. It ripens in October, and though then fit for use, lasts on till January, a rare property, though found in some other kinds of autumn apples. Any one wishing for a few scions of the Ten-Shilling Apple may have them free of cost, except postage, on applying to J. WIGHTON, Cossey Park, Norwich. RIVERS' NEW PEACHES AND NECTARINES. HREE years ago I promised to note and give to the FLORIST the periods at which Mr. Rivers' new fruit would ripen in my orchard-house. But even under glass the two following springs were so protracted and cloudy, that several kinds cast their fruit which I considered safe, and so my report would have been too imperfect to be useful. To prevent another disappointment, I introduced last winter a flow-and-return hotwater pipe, and the result has been a liberal supply of fruit generally, including specimens of all the new introductions. The artificial heat besides anticipated the ripening season by a fortnight. I will now give you the dates of gathering the first specimen of each variety:— PEACHES. Early Beatrice, June 21. Magdala, Aug. 1. Goshawk, Aug. 30. L. Palmerston, Sept. 24. NECTARINES. Dante, Aug. 16. | Albert Victor, Sept. 4. These all originated with Mr. Rivers. great advance gained by his life-long exertions is manifested in the extended season of that delicious fruit, the Nectarine, which the orchardhouse will supply for seven weeks. My list describes nothing but first-rate fruit of good size-some very large. The trees are vigorous. Advance, the first on the list, is the last introduction; it is large, rich, and deeply coloured. It gained a fortnight on Lord Napier, our former earliest. Victoria and Pine-Apple require a wall. Of the earliest Peaches I cannot yet speak so favourably, but the well ripened wood of the present season will perhaps work an improvement. But Rivers' Early York is early, and combines all the desirables of a perfect Peach. Goshawk, Magdala, and Merlin are excellent. My conviction is, as regards orchard-houses, that if required to perfect the finest Peaches, a little heat is indispensable. With that aid, upper end of the fronds is twice or thrice forked, the extreme tips being again divided. The veins in the rotundate pinnæ are flabellately forked, each terminating within the margin in a thickened apex; those of the occasional accidental elongated pinnæ being pinnately branched. The fascicles or tufts in which the plant grows consist of numerous fronds, which are gracefully arching, forming a very elegant mass, and from the base of these fascicles are produced the elongated thread-like stolons characteristic of this genus. Indeed, from its barren condition, these and other peculiarities of habit are the only indications of the genus to which it is referred. It has, so far as we can learn, no tubers, and hence is possibly not, as we were inclined to suppose, an abnormal form of N. tuberosa. In aspect it is quite analogous to the narrow-fronded and sometimes multifid Athyrium Filix-femina Frizelliæ. We have to thank the Messrs. Veitch and Sons for the specimens from which these descriptive notes have been drawn up.-T. MOORE. THE FRUIT SEASON OF 1878. HE spring was most ungenial. I knew by the absence of bees, that the weather which was ungenial to them would be unfavourable to the blossoms of fruit. As regards fruits in general, I may observe I have had admirable crops of Plums, Currants of all kinds, Strawberries, Raspberries, and Gooseberries. The two last were the finest crops I ever had. The raspberries are Fastolf, Red Antwerp, and Fillbasket. The gooseberries (the late Mr. Rivers' selection) are Walnut Green, Whitesmith, and Red Warrington. They are all admirable, and ripen as placed. Walnut Green is, I think, the bestflavoured of all; Whitesmith is the bestflavoured of the Lancashire show sorts, and Warrington is the best finisher. He also sent me the Red Champagne and Ironmonger, both excellent in flavour, but too small. The only difference between them was, one was pubescent and the other impubescent, one was of branching habit, and the other of erect habit, the flavour being identical. Ironmonger is the best bottler or preserve gooseberry known. I cannot mention Mr. Rivers without acknowledging how much I am indebted to him for almost all the fruits in my garden, many of them his kind gifts; indeed, I may say the best fruits in my garden were his gifts. He has few more sincere mourners than Mr. Bréhaut and myself. But I must proceed. Many of the pear-trees failed, but the following are splendidly cropped, especially the first I name, which is one of the best to have, namely Beurré Hardy, Gratioli, Beurré Mauxion, Beurré d'Amanlis, Poire Peche, Marie Louise d'Uccle, Comte de Lamy, Albertine, Duchess of Orleans, Beurré Bachelier, Beurré Diel, Souvenir du Congrès, Thompson's, and Dr. Trousseau. They are all on the Quince stock. I was not aware they were so well cropped when I sent an account to the Gardeners' Chronicle. Many of the pear-trees are black-blighted. Three of the best pears here-namely, Joséphine de Malines, Beurré Superfin, Doyenne du Comice, are poorly cropped. are looked after. I must now refer to the kings of fruits, Peaches and Nectarines, which are objects of my special care and delight. I have been twenty-seven years studying them; and I am glad that they require study and attention all the year round. The vigour of the trees, and their beautiful foliage [magnificent-ED.] will show that they blister, for the trees being in such good I hardly ever have any condition, they are able to withstand the effects of severe weather, both in the winter and in the spring. The spring, as I have already observed, was most ungenial; we had no sun to ripen the male dust, without which impregnation cannot take place. From Mr. Bréhaut's "Peach-Pruner" (p. 17), I glean the following:-"The flowers are composed of floral envelopes and sexual organs. The floral envelopes are the calyx and corolla; the divisions of the calyx are known as sepals, and those of the corolla as petals. The sexual organs are the stamens and the pistil. The stamens are the male organs, which are many, and surround the pistil or female organ, which is a unit, in the centre of the stamens. The anther at the extremity of the stamens contains pollen, or fertilising dust. The pistil is the female organ of plants, the extremity of which is called the stigma, and the base the ovary, 1878. ] VILLA GARDENING FOR NOVEMBER. 173 which contains the embryo fruit, while the intermediate space is called the style." Unless there is, therefore, sufficient sun to ripen the pollen of the male organs, which pollen must be transferred to the stigma of the pistil, there can be no impregnation, though the flowers be millions. Bees and gentle breezes greatly aid in the transference of the pollen. I am surprised that Mr. Bréhaut's "PeachPruner" has not gone through many editions. I am a short-pruner myself, for which, as well as for long-pruning, the work contains admirable directions. Buy it, reader; it will only cost you, post free, 3s. 8d. I may say that I was a short-pruner long before this most useful work came out, but I am thankful for its confirmation. My peach crops under glass (without heat) have been very good, especially the Early Silver, Royal George, Barrington, Early Alfred,* Early Louise, and Grosse Mignonne. The Nectarines both indoors and outdoors have not cropped well. As regards Peach trees "to go anywhere or do anything," as the Duke of Wellington said of the English soldier, I believe the Royal George has no superior; but under glass, being without glands, it is subject to mildew, which I meet simply with cold water and a sponge. I have seen enough of nostrums. The remedies I have found to be worse than the diseases! These trees have cropped best out-of-doorsEarly York, Barrington, Princess of Wales, Bellegarde, Royal George, and Early Alfred. I have eleven trees under glass, and 125 outof-doors; but the failures are many, and the successes few. Many trees set their fruit, and then dropped them, specially Cherries, and also other fruits. On the whole, I am quite satisfied, and grateful to the Giver of all good things, and the Wisest Dispenser. I I have just finished the season with Lady Palmerston (Oct. 4). My best late Peaches are Barrington, Nectarine Peach, Princess of Wales, a sure cropper, magnificent, and has the finest large flowers, Lord Palmerston, and Lady Palmerston, the last has yellowish flesh. began the season on July 29th with Early Louise. The trees are abundantly triple-budded, and very healthy. All the trees have been deprived of the points of their leaves, in order to ripen the wood. The wood, to stand the winter, should be blood red, or at least the colour of mahogany. When the twigs have been shrouded with leaves, the wood looks like sickly green sealing-wax, and is unripe, and will neither stand a severe winter, nor bear well, although such wood will flower well. I will now give a list of the Peaches and Nectarines here : PEACHES: Noblesse, Grosse Mignonne, Golden Frogmore, Lord Palmerston, Lady This has been erroneously described as having round glands, but all my trees are alike without glands. Palmerston, Princess of Wales, Nectarine Peach, Royal George, Early York, Bellegarde, Alexandra Noblesse, Golden Eagle, Tippicanoe, Crimson Galande, Early Ascot, Early Silver (fine flavour), Early Louise, Barrington, Early Alfred, Violette Hâtive, Early Beatrice, Prince of Wales, Snow Peach (white blossoms, curious, but worthless), Albatross, Early Victoria (like the Early York), Gregory's Late, Dr. Hogg, Magdala, Early Rivers, Radclyffe, Late Admirable, Walburton Admirable, and Acton Scott. NECTARINES : Elruge, Violette Hâtive, Downton, Emmerton's White, Rivers' White, Prince of Wales, Rivers' Orange, Rivers' Pine-Apple (the finest of all), and Lord Napier, the true colour of which is blood-purple. Those portrayed in the FLORIST were grown, presume, under glass, and hence are not so highly coloured, light being the colourer, as sun is the sweetener. I For genial gardens, or under glass, I strongly recommend the Early Silver Peach; for an early peach out-of-doors, the Early Louise-it also crops well under glass. Finally, I highly recommend Parham's glass copings. My friend Mr. Connop, of Fifehead Neville, near here, has had a splendid crop this year, under the glass copings of Mr. Parham.-W. F. RADClyffe, Okeford Fitzpaine. VILLA GARDENING FOR 3S we write, the weather is so fine-so soft, balmy, and pleasantly dry for October-that one could well wish it would remain so for a long time. If it would only linger a little, before the prime, the full fruitage and the red ripeness darkens to the decay and blackness of winter! But the change presses forward. Summer's flame has deepened to autumn's crimson, and the flush of colour becomes extinguished in shadows that come before frost and storm. It is now a good time for gardeners; they can now get rid of some of the weeds that have defied all extinguishing processes during the summer; leaves can be gathered together; and the cleanliness that will result, will make some amends for the general untidiness of the past summer. STOVE AND GREENHOUSE.-A warm greenhouse or stove, to which fire-heat can be applied at all times, makes the Villa Gardener independent of weather. But many are apt to abuse this advantage by firing-up too much, and killing half the plants by maintaining too dry and debilitating an atmosphere. This is to be avoided. In a stove there will now be Crotons, Dracanas, and such like winter decorative plants, most of which will be in a free growing state; and where the new growth is short-jointed, healthy, and strong, the plants should have every encouragement, by placing them near the glass in a strong light, and keeping them a little dry. The plants should now be arranged, as far as it can be done, to afford winter decoration; keeping them as uniform and neat as their habits of growth will allow, tying into shape as may be necessary. By changing the position of the plants occasionally, a little relief to the otherwise monotonous appearance of the house can be brought about. Do not overcrowd the house; it is much better to have a few plants in good condition, than many wanting in general attractiveness. COLD GREENHOUSE.-The elements are dealing tenderly with this structure, and flowers come forth far beyond the allotted time. A number of Colchicums, both single and double, in pots, have been very attractive, with the bluepurple Crocus speciosus among them. Zonal Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, and Tuberous-rooted Begonias are still gay, and with them are associated the Abutilons Boule de Neige, white; Lemoinei, yellow; and rosaflorum, rose-plants that are extremely well adapted for a cold house at this time of the year, and which simply require to be kept well watered and free from green-fly. When these are over, the berried Solanums and the Chrysanthemums will succeed them; with Primulas of several kinds, and Cyclamens, to follow on. Fuchsia Dominiana is flowering also; and Aralia Sieboldii is throwing up its curious ivy-like flowers. Cleanliness here also is of great importance, for by keeping the shelves of the house clean, the plants clear of decaying leaves, the surface-soil stirred, and all neat and tidy, the appearance of a house will be greatly improved. A few Hyacinths, Polyanthus Narcissi, Tulips, Crocuses, and Scillas should be potted, to help the floral succession in spring. Not only are these plants very gay and effective in their season, but they are also easily grown, and there is little else to take their places. As soon as the bulbs are potted, they should be stood away in some odd corner, on boards or slates resting on a good layer of cinder ashes, and covered over with the same to the depth of 2 in., when they should be left untouched for six weeks or two months. FLOWER GARDEN.-The bedding plants linger on and bloom as if it were hard for things so fair to make haste to die; and indeed, the variegated Pelargoniums of all sections have been very pretty for the last month, and are likely to continue so. Any plants it is desirable to winter in pots should be lifted ere frost and wet destroy them. This is a good time of year to replant borders of hardy plants, lifting them and deeply digging and enriching the ground with dung and leaves, and then replanting. Roses should now be planted. It is always well to get this done as early as pos sible, as new roots are put forth, and they get well hold of the soil before winter. In making plantations of Roses, let there be among them some of the best of the tea-scented varieties worked on the seedling brier, to give flowers in autumn. Bedding Pansies and Violas that have bloomed well during the summer should be lifted, pulled to pieces, and replanted in a nursery-bed, to establish themselves, and they will be found most useful for planting out in early spring. COLD FRAME.-During autumn, winter, and spring the cold frame is a most useful adjunct to the villa garden, and it can be made an excellent feeder to the cold greeenhouse. A look over the occupants of our own cold frame can be turned to account, to show something of the hardy plants grown in pots that do so well to flower in early spring. There are double and single Primroses, some of the latter already in bloom, Scillas, Triteleia uniflora, the pretty Gaultheria procumbens, with its white flowers and small coral berries, Auriculas, Polyanthus, Primulas of various kinds, Anemone fulgens, and A. apennina, and others too numerous to mention. Some of these are active in growth, and others will commence to grow shortly, and there will be no pause in the floral procession, till it is lost in the throng of flowers that come forth to greet the swallow's return. KITCHEN GARDEN.-Carrots, Parsnips, Beet, Jerusalem Artichokes should now be lifted and stored, if not already done, taking advantage of any dry weather to get the ground dug and thrown up roughly. Celery should be finally earthed up, and made snug for the winter. Those who grow Endive should tie up a few of the forward plants, to induce them to blanch for immediate use. Cabbages and Broccoli are benefited by hoeing between them, and earthing up with soil a little. Young Cabbages can be planted out thickly, and the forwardest pulled out by-and-by, to make room for the others. Seakale and Rhubarb plants may be prepared for forcing by clearing away all decaying leaves about the roots, and placing round them litter and leaves a foot or so in depth; they can then be covered over with forcing-pots, &c., when convenient. During dry weather ground should be cleaned, and all rubbish not fit for turning into vegetable refuse burnt. FRUIT GARDEN.-It is said that fruit is not keeping well this season, and Apples and Pears should be gone over occasionally, to remove those that are decaying. Fruit-trees are best let alone till the leaves fall, but the ground may be prepared for making new plantations. All fruit-trees will move well now, and the earlier the work is got through, the better. Towards the end of the month, any pruning necessary to be done should at once be proceeded with.-SUBURBANUS. |