236 THE GARDENER. [May 



to have four upright leaders, thus having two trained off on each side. Now it 

 must be very plain to every one that such a mode of planting fruit-trees would 

 be a means of soon covering the wall, and at the same time one can have a 

 greater variety of fruit in a given space, and by well attending to root-pruning 

 there need be no unproductive or rampant growths allowed on the trees. 

 We have seen this tried on a limited extent, and it answered remarkably 

 well, instead of waiting for years, as in the old way of growing trees, to see a 

 good wall moderately filled with ])roductive trees. In this way any one may 

 have a wall 14 feet high pretty well furnished with fruitful trees in from 4 to 6 

 years. Of course much depends on soil, situation, and climate. 



We have seen this done with Peaches over a trellis in a Peach-house, and the 

 second season after planting, a trellis over 6 feet high well covered with splen- 

 did bearing wood. When the price of a few maiden trees is taken into account, it 

 sinks to a mere nothing when compared with the results, and this is far better 

 than the system of pot- culture, with all its liabilities to over-dryness in 

 summer, and consequent dangers from red-spider, thrip, and insufficiently de- 

 veloped leaves, resulting in crippled growth and unfruitfulness. This system, 

 as compared to pot-culture under glass, requires far less careful attention, always 

 looks cleaner and neater, and may be used to any extent where at first a little 

 expense can be allowed for a good return. G. Dawson. 



AN AMATEUR'S EXPERIENCE IN PRIMULA GROWING. 



Having a small greenliouse and forcing pit, I try to have a bloom all 

 the year round ; and to obtain this my attention was called to the 

 Primula. The first time I tried to grow them from seed I was reward- 

 ed with good plants ; they grew well all summer, but when winter 

 came they got dull-like, and began to damp away, until they all died. 

 I afterwards found out the cause ; they had been watered rather too 

 freely. Einding I could not do without the Primula, I tried again, 

 and was successful this time, paying great attention to the watering. 



Should any amateur wish to get up a stock of these beautiful in- 

 mates of the greenhouse, I venture to note down my experience ; it 

 differs a little from what I have read. I buy a packet of good seed, 

 sow about the beginning of May — last year I sowed on the 3d of 

 May — in wide-mouthed pots ; for it is better to have a good body of 

 soil under the seed, instead of the reduced quantity contained in seed- 

 pans. Eor compost I use one half rotten turf, one half sharp sand. 

 Use clean pots ; fill nearly half full of drainage, then add the soil ; 

 fill to the top, press moderately firm, and then sow the seed thinly and 

 evenly ; cover very thinly with fine soil, water with a fine rose, or by 

 drawing the hand across a wet brush, cover with a pane of glass. 

 Then I put them in the forcing- pit ; water when the surface gets dry ; 

 remove the glass as soon as the seedlings appear ; when they have two 

 rough leaves, prick them out an inch apart in a seed-pan, using the 



