i88t.] DUNDEE HORTICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 137 



*' I once obtained an extraordinary crop of fruit from a single plant placed 

 in a large tub at the foot of a flued wall in an early vinery. It was trained 

 on the ' extension system ' — that is to say, several main branches were laid in, 

 and wherever there was room a lateral was fruited, each being stopped beyond 

 the bunch of fruit. This plant eventually covered a high wall, and was taken 

 down the wires on the roof about 4 feet. "VVe gathered the first fruit from it 

 only in April, and the last, which formed a good dish at a metropolitan show, 

 in November. Rich food, in the form of liquid manure and top-dressings, was 

 frequently given, but we were well repaid for our care. As a rule, I do not 

 find it advantageous to keep old plants, preferring the extra trouble consequent 

 upon rearing fresh ones, well knowing that these will give heavier crops of 

 fine fruit. Old plants are apt to become unsightly, and a small white fly, 

 Aleyrodes vaporariorum, often takes posses^ sion of them, and is with difficulty 

 destroyed by fumigation : young vigorous plants are less liable to be infested 

 with this pest. 



" Where the Peach-trees are trained over a circular trellis, and a staging runs 

 round the front of the house, a few Tomatoes may be grown in pots on the 

 latter, and either be trained up the rafters or staked uprightly at about 3 feet 

 apart. No kind of manure, whether in a liquid or solid form, seems to come 

 amiss to the Tomato, provided it is applied sensibly and moderately. One 

 thing is certain — some kind of fertiliser must be used when the crops are heavy, 

 on account of the rapidity with which they exhaust the soil. Those who have 

 the run of a farm may collect materials for making liquid manure of a power- 

 ful description. We put about two pecks of sheep droppings, one peck of 

 chicken dung, one gallon of soot, with a smaller quantity of hot-lime, into 

 a coarse-textured bag, which is tied up and placed in an eighteen-gallon butt 

 of soft water. In about a week the liquid manure is fit for use, and one gallon is 

 found of sufficient strength to require diluting with about three gallons of 

 water. The butt is kept filled with water, and the manure continues to be 

 strong for several weeks — much, however, depending upon the quantity daily 

 used. After a time the bag is pressed whenever the liquid manure is wanted. 

 " Gruano, applied with caution, proves a powerful invigorator ; but if used to 

 excess it is very harmful in effect. A smallest-sized flower-potf ul of good guano, 

 well squeezed with the hand in a ".three-gallon can of water, is a safe quantity 

 to use. A very powerful manure consists of a mixture of one-third of nitrate of 

 soda with two-thirds of superphosphate of lime, used as advised in the case of 

 guano. Clay's Fertiliser, if applied in moderation, is equal in effect to any of 

 the foregoing, and therefore strongly recommended. All that is necessary is to 

 sprinkle it lightly over the soil, and water in — about three applications being 

 sufficient for a crop," 



DUNDEE HORTICULTURAL ASSOCIATIOISr. 



The ordinary monthly meeting of this Association was held in the Imperial 

 Hotel, Dundee, on Friday evening, the 4th ult. — the President, Mr D. Day, in 

 the chair. There was a full attendance of the members. After the usual 

 preliminary business, Mr George Johnstone, of Glamis Castle Gardens, read a 

 paper, entitled, "A Few Practical Hints to Young Gardeners." He said that 

 young gardeners who could do their work well mechanically, and had gained 

 a good knowledge of the nomenclature of plants, were not to consider them- 

 selves as finished tradesmen. The gardener required tact and much fore- 

 thought. He had the seasons to consider, and how and when to do the dif- 



