326 THE GARDENER. [July 



end of the third year I noticed my enemy beginning to show itself 

 on some of the young shoots. I was now at a loss how to proceed, as it 

 could not be from any bad effect of the subsoil ; neither had pruning 

 been neglected, as I do not happen to be one of those who think 

 Apples more than any other sort of fruit-trees under cultivation ought 

 to be left without pruning. A few years went on, and canker was not 

 any better. At last (about twenty years ago) I determined to try what 

 effect "heading-over" would have. Several of the oldest trees that 

 were most cankered were subjected to that process, cutting away 

 every branch 3 or 4 inches above where they had been grafted ; they 

 were all Dwarf Standards, with stems from 12 to 18 inches above the 

 ground. The season following they made excellent wood, which during 

 the summer was well thinned out, but not stopped. At the winter- 

 pruning they were all shortened a little. For several years after, 

 without showing the slightest symptoms of canker, they produced 

 splendid crops of fruit. Owing to some alterations, they had to be 

 taken up ; but others that have since then undergone a similar of)era- 

 tion are perfectly healthy, and when the seasons are favourable 

 produce excellent crops of fruit, although it is several years since they 

 were cut over. In none of the cases have the roots been interfered 

 with ; neither do I attempt to say how "heading-over" happens to be 

 efficacious in curing canker ; I merely relate facts, and hope they may 

 prove useful to some of the numerous readers of the ' Gardener,' from 

 which, on many things, I have received much valuable information. I 

 may also state that, on cutting over some of the largest trees, I had 

 the surface of each wound thoroughly covered over with the following 

 composition — two parts of bees-wax, and one each of tallow and rosin, 

 melted slowly by the side of a fire, and laid on with a brush while 

 warm. This, I think, prevents the wounds being injuriously affected 

 by atmospheric changes. R. Bowie. 



Chilltngham Gardens. 



BANUWCULUSES. 



I HEREWITH send for your notice a plant of double Ranunculus in 

 flower. We have a good-sized bed of them here (5 feet by 24) at the 

 west end of a south border in our kitchen-garden, and to see them at 

 mid-day, when their petals are all gaily expanded to the beautiful 

 sunlight, they produce a very brilliant and pleasing effect. Their col- 

 ours are various, but that of the one I just send you is the boldest and 

 perhaps the most showy. Referring to my note-book, I find it 

 was about the middle of February when the roots were planted. 

 They were inserted in drills about 8 inches apart, and a little over an 



