82 THE FLORIST. 



A practical proof of the success of Spergula pilifera for the objects 

 above stated, may be seen in the gardens of A. Mongredien, Esq., at 

 Forest Hill, Sydenham, Kent; where a rich and verdant plot or lawn 

 has been established four years by Mr. Summers, the intelligent 

 gardener there, and is now in fine condition. In the same gardens, a 

 considerable space is allotted for further illustration of its perfect 

 adaptation, which may be seen on application. — E. G. Henderson and 

 Sons Catalogue of Flower Seeds, &c. 



[We have seen this plant, and have little doubt that it will make 

 a compact and excellent lawn — soft and elastic to the tread, and even in 

 surface. Its not requiring any mowing is a great point in its favour]. 



LIFTING AND RE-PLANTING OLD FRUIT TREES— CON- 

 SIDERED DEGENERATING. 



Allow me to give the results of my experience, with twenty old Apple 

 trees and five Pears, that were considered by my employer and others 

 to be wearing out. When I commenced my service — June, 1855 — I 

 found all the trees in a horrible plight — gum. canker, and American 

 blight being the order of the day ; and my employer, on going through 

 the grounds with me, a few days after, remarked that he did not know 

 what was the matter with them. He said he got but little fruit from 

 them ; and what he did get, was spotted, cracked, and gritty. He had 

 not an Apple or Pear fit for use by November, and that his Peaches, 

 Nectarines, and Apricots, were still worse. Every five or six years 

 he had to replant young trees, for they died off, half at a time, and the 

 little fruit they bore was watery. This was the account given of the 

 trees, and I began to fancy that I had got my head in a hornet's nest. 

 I, however, at once discovered the cause of complaint, and I am happy 

 to say have successfully removed it. My Peaches are now excellent, 

 with no appearance of degeneracy ; and I may say that my Nectarines 

 and Apricots have been equally fine and abundant. So much for 

 wearing out. 



The Apples and Pears had been planted thirty years ; they were 

 thirteen feet high, and had been trained goblet fashion. When I pro- 

 posed to lift and replant them in some other part of the garden, I was 

 laughed at. However, I at last got consent, and they have since 

 surpassed my employer's most sanguine expectations. At this time they 

 are in good health, and are literally covered with blossom buds. The 

 following is the the way in which they were managed: — About 

 the end of October, 1855, I was fortunate enough to have three 

 weeks' fine weather. I commenced operations in good earnest. In 

 the case of Apples and Pears, I had all old Moss removed, and 

 all old loose bark around cankered branches ; this done, I had 

 holes taken out, about fourteen feet apart, and the same from row to 

 row ; the soil was removed about one foot deep, and then I had these 

 holes filled up, to within three inches of the ground level, with coal 

 ashes and stones, or any old rubbish that I could get, that would act as 

 drainage : this finished, I had the holes filled with a part of the soil 



