THE FLORAL WORLD ATsD GARDEN GUIDE. 371 



sides with turfs of grass, the grassy side iipwards, and then filled the space with 

 golden nobs and some French apples, about two feet and a half deep in the centre, 

 sloping a little to the sides, and then covered them close with turf, to keep the 

 fruit clean, the grassy side next the apples. I then covered the ridge with soil a 

 foot thick to keep out the aii* and frost. At the end of April I had them taken out 

 in fine preservation. I again, last autumn, kept fifty bushels in the same way, 

 with equal success." This writer refers to several gentlemen in the same neigh- 

 bourhood who were equally successful (after his communication) in keeping 

 upwards of 200 bushels of apples until May in the following year. 



Perhaps a word or two may be useful, in conclusion, on the gathering of fruit ; 

 for unless it be properly gathered, it is just impossible to keep it, no matter what 

 plans are resorted to. There must be no bruising, no tumbling of it about on 

 the grass, or rolling it hea'ilong from biskets to wo )den fioors. Let the gardener 

 handle them as Isaac Walton handled fi'ogs, as if he loved them. The careless 

 way in which fruit is half torn from trees, and shut like gravel on to barn floors 

 and kitchen pavements, has more t) do in rendering it scarce in the depth of 

 winter than any of the mistakes as to keeping. Gather before it is dead ripe, 

 when it parts easily, and has its proper colour. To heap up for fermenting is a 

 mischievous practice ; all it does lor the fruit is to set the first stage of decay 

 in action. A careful handling and preservation in an equable temperature are 

 the two leading points ; alter that use the vigilant eye, and you will be repaid 

 for your extra trouble by having plenty of apples, pears, and quinces when such 

 things are scarce, and when, if you have nut, used such precautions, you mu^t 

 pay high prices for the enjoyment of them. 



SimuBS WHICH Thrivk vkder the Drip of Trees. — The following shrubs 

 are found to thrive under the spread and drip of trees, and at the same time v,.ye 

 very ornamental an i useful for idunting on the sides of wood rides, for forming 

 game covert. In planting shrubs with a view to produce shelter, ornamental effect, 

 or game covert, I would advise that they should never be scattered promiscuously 

 oyer the ground as single specimens at wide distances apart, but should be planted 

 in groups, say each plant three to four feet apart, and a mixture of a few kinds in 

 a mass, taking care to keep the low-growing and less rambling sorts next to the 

 wood rides. Common and Portugal Laurels, Hhododendron ponticum, Azalia 

 pontica, Taxus baccata, Ruscus aculeatus and hypoglossum, Cotoneaster buxifolia, 

 raicrophylla, and Kookerii ; Perneitya nuicronata (for peat soils), Phillyrea of sorts, 

 Ehamnus alaternus. Broom, Leycesteria furmosa. Box of sores, Juniperus communis 

 and sabina, Potentilla fi uticosa, Buddlea globosa. Viburnum lantana and opulus, 

 Gaultheria Shallon, Kibes of sorts, Weigelia rosea, Euonymus europseus, Berberis 

 aquifolius, dulcis, Darwinii, vulgaris, and vulgaris purpurea, Hippophae rhamnoides 

 and angustifolia. Arbutus unedu, Garrya elliptica, llosa rubiginosa, Symphoriu 

 I'acemosa. G. Bkkrv, in The Field. 



Marble Dust as a Fertilizer.— Limestone, marble, and chalk, are alike in 

 composition, for they are each composed of lime and carbonic acid. The main 

 difference in composition is the presence of a very small quantity of iron, or other 

 metal, which darkens the limestone, and shades some beds of marble. The com- 

 'pactness, the degree of crystallization, and other causes, giv3 a different physical 

 appearance to the three f(jrms of carbonate of lime. Burn limestone, marble, or 

 chalk, to drive off the carbonic acid, and in each case you have caustic lime remain- 

 ing. Grind or pulverize them, and in each case you have a powder which is chiefly 

 carbonate of lime. On some soils entirely deficient in lime, the unburnt d powder 

 may be beneficial, but we suspect not greatly so, from the fact that on soils filled 

 •with limestone, and even partly made up of the detritus of limestone, good results 

 are derived from burning a part of the limestone, and applying it in this state to 

 the soil. The expulsion of the carbonic acid leaves the caustic lime in a state to 

 act more energetically as a neutralizer of acids in the soil, and as a decomposer of 

 organic materials to tit them for plant f )od. The fact that air-slaked lime, which 

 is in a measure re-carbonated, is somewhat beneficial, would indicate that very 

 finely powdered limestone, or marble, or chalk, should be of some value, though its 

 comminution is infinitely less than when disintegrated by fire. ]\[arble dust may 

 be used on heavy soils as an ameliorator to change the physical condition, and to 

 ultimately att'ect the chemical constitution. — American Ajriculturist. 



