i88t.] hints for AMATEURS. 457 



frequently the case in favoured districts where nature is allowed to do as she 

 pleases, and then is grumbled at when the trees grow out of bearing by neglect 

 of the most ordinary attention. Where trees are cankering and showing each 

 year numbers of dead and dying shoots, the cause may be found in the soil ; 

 deep down the roots will have grown into sour unhealthy subsoil, and are 

 there decaying like their top : prevention at planting time to send the roots 

 horizontally would save much trouble and loss. Choose kinds of fruits well 

 known in the district for their hardiness and free-bearing quality. Among 

 Pears we mostly find (they are with us this year extra good) Louise Bon of 

 Jersey, Marie Louise, Pitmaston Duchess, Thompson's, Glout Morceau, Jersey 

 Gratioli. Apples, such as Stirling Castle, Lord Sufiield, Eclinville, Welling- 

 ton, Keswick Codlin, Irish Peach. Plums in abundance were Green Gage, 

 Blue Gage, Jefferson, Kirke's, Victoria, Coe's Golden Drop, Diamond, and 

 Peach Plum. Peaches on open walls are and were Early Rivers, Hale's Early 

 (both very useful), Bellegarde, Crimson Gillande, Royal George, Violette 

 Hative. The foregoing are among the hardiest of their kind, and may often 

 be seen plentiful in exposed positions when many other kinds are scarce. All 

 late and sappy growths on wall-trees should be removed or shortened, and 

 every means taken to assist the maturation of the wood. Shoots should be 

 thin, and not platted one over the other; this applies particularly to Figs. These 

 always do wisll when spurs are short, natural, and close to the walls. Straw- 

 berries should already be trimmed and manured, either by spreading rotten 

 manure on the surface or by slightly forking it in. The roots need not be 

 disturbed. Young plants may be put in reserve beds till wanted. In the 

 orchard- house every attention should be given to ripening of wood without 

 disturbing the foliage, which are maturing the permanent fruit-buds ; late 

 growths may be removed. Trees, whether dwarf bushes, tall standards, or 

 trained to trellis-work, which are continuing to grow late, and showing absence 

 of ripening their wood, should be carefully examined at the roots to see the 

 cause; naked tap-roots going straight down may be found and maybe re- 

 moved ; over-doses of manure-water may have done mischief, which will ne- 

 cessitate regulating at the roots ; removal of mulching and surface-soil may 

 be of service in hastening the ripening of wood. A dry current of air is in- 

 dispensable to the wellbeing of trees at this season. Where ripe Peaches of 

 the Late Admirable and Solway kinds are still hanging, and are wanted to 

 ripen, dryness and abundance of air will aid them ; but where hot-water pipes 

 are at command, they will push forward ripening of wood or fruit. Trees be- 

 ginning to shed their leaves of the Standard class, planted out, which are grow- 

 ing one-sided to the sun, may be lifted and rej^lanted, placing the thin bare 

 side next the south ; they are very manageable under such a practice, and can 

 be kept as fruitful dwarfs many years, and bear immense crops of fine fruit, 

 and can be helped greatly by liquid manure, 



SHRUBS. 



Planting of the Evergreen class will now be well advanced where means and 

 time can be spared for such. It is always well to get the roots well started in 

 the fresh soil during autumn. Late-planting taught many a lesson last year 

 to planters which they will not soon forget. Trees and shrubs which did not 

 get a hold of the soil early were hard dealt with during the winter; and the 

 dry spring experienced in so many parts put the finishing stroke on them. 

 Well-trenched ground, good-sized pits to give all freedom to root-growth, and 

 a quantity of fine healthy soil placed with them at planting time, are matters 



