440 THE GARDENER. [Sept. 187 i. 



tree is rather old, we advise you to carefully lift one side, preserving the roots 

 and removing the soil to within 2 feet of the hole, cutting all tap-roots; then cut 

 back the large strong roots, and replant or relay them in the soil again. If the 

 soil is deep, damp; and rich, see that it is thoroughly well-drained : the operation 

 should be performed just as it drops its leaves. Then next year operate in the 

 same manner on the other half of the roots. Your Fig is barren from the same 

 cause — over-luxuriance — and it should be treated in the same way. If it has the 

 range of a large space of ground, it will be best to concrete the bottom, and con- 

 fine it to a comparatively small space by root-proof brick or stone work. A Fig 

 growing as you describe must be in very rich soil, and nothing will induce fruit- 

 fulness but cutting off its supplies. 



W. E. E. — We suspect your Vine is Chasselas Musque, which is very subject 

 to crack. Cut the shoots half through, a little below the bunch, whenever the 

 first berry cracks, and protect the roots from heavy rains. This will prevent so 

 much sap being sent into the bunches, and you will find it stop the cracking. 

 If your Figs are planted out and growing strongly in a rich border, they will not 

 bear ; root-prune them, and give them light soil and lime-rubbish to grow in, and 

 if they are the ordinary sorts they will bear. 



A Young Gardener. — You did quite right in shaking out your Pines. Do 

 not exceed 90° of bottom-heat. Keep the atmosphere moist, and water them as 

 soon as they begin to make fresh roots. Suckers will do best in a place by them- 

 selves, as the heat and moisture of a forcing-pit are too much for them. "Water 

 the suckers as soon as they make roots an inch long. Our Treatise on the Pine 

 might be of use to you. 



I beg to inform you that Bailey's was the best-flavoured green-flesh Melon 

 shown at the Royal Botanic Society's Show, July 12 and 13, and not Queen Emma, 

 as stated by your reporter in this month's ' Gardener.' I will enclose a few seeds 

 from the prize Melon, if you will please to accept, and give them a trial. — I am, 

 &c., Charles Ross. 



Welford , Park, 



[Many thanks. — Ed.] 



A Subscriber will find all necessary instructions about a succession of Cabbages 

 and other greens in Kitchen-Garden department for this and previous months. 



J. c. — When your paper came to hand it was not in a state that would warrant 

 our putting it into the printer's hands, and we caused it to be copied verbatim ; 

 and though we are very reluctant to cast aside any one's communication, after 

 they take the trouble to write and send it to us, we considered that we did you a 

 kindness in not inserting your paper. And since receiving your letter of 15th 

 August we have read your paper carefully again, and we are still of opinion 

 that "jets of gas, placed so as to heat large surfaces of sheet iron, pipes, or large 

 and thin areas, and the air drawn through these by any cheap power available, 

 clockwork, a waterfall, or a gas-engine," is a plan entirely inapplicable to the 

 heating and ventilating of forcing-pits, notwithstanding that you now accuse us 

 of a low standard of intelligence. 



George Morrison. — The leaves of your Roses have been perforated by aphis 

 when in a young state, and their then minute injuries have developed with the 

 leaf into their present extent and character. Keep them free from aphis in the 

 early part of the season. 



