FOREIGN AND MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 



y to create an atmosphere of the carbo- 

 nate of ammonia under his ground, would siiend 

 a great deal of money without ohtaining any 

 benefit whatever, since the slightest movement 

 of the air would instantly produce evaporation 

 ot this volatile manure." It is fortunate then, 

 that so useful an agent can be insured for the 

 purposes of horticulture wherever a quantity 

 of the air can be isolated from the air outside; 

 yet it is somewhat singular that its use, now at- 

 tracting attention, in the cidtivation of plants 

 in the green-house, stove, pit and frame, has not 

 been thought of sooner. — Revue H^rticole. 



Yase, or en Gobelet mode of training 

 FRUIT-TREES. — lu the gardens of the Luxem- 

 bourg, at Paris, all the (piartcrs containing 

 fruit-trees are surrounded with borders, planted 

 with cherry, plum, and apricot trees, as stand- 

 ards; and some with excellent effect are trained 

 in form of a Vase or en Gobelet, dwarf, or with 

 a stem five feet or rather more in height. The 

 hpad is formed hollow, in shape like a goblet, 

 the shoots being annually tied to hoops of wood, 

 adapted to thj circumference required to give 

 the desired form. Two hoops are sufficient, 

 the two-year old wood being tied to one; and 

 the equidistant regulation of the one-year old 

 shoots is effected ui>on the other. As the vase 

 or goblet widens, of course hoops of greater 

 circuit must be prepared, either of new ma- 

 terials, or introducing an additional piece. In 

 some instances the hoops were formed of round, 

 apparently a quarter of an inch, iron rods; 

 but wood is preferable to iron, for vegetation 

 in contact with the latter is apt to be injurious- 

 ly affl'cted by the rapidity with which it heats 

 and cools. Shoots are apt to spring up in the 

 center of the goblet ; but they must be pinched 

 in summer; and so all other irregularities of 

 growth appear likewise to have been. The form 

 is very ornamental ; it can be produced at little 

 expense ; and the trees were well furnished with 

 fruit buds. Suppose a tree to have six shoots, 

 let them be tied at equal distances to a hoop 

 placed horizontally, and then shortened a few 

 inches above it, or so as to leave them a foot 

 or more in length. From each of these, two 

 shoots may be trained to the outside of a some- 

 what wider hoop in the following season; and 

 thus liy annually introducing hoo]is of a width 

 proportionately corresponding with the respec- 

 tive diameters of the vase intended to be imi- 

 tated, the desired form will ultimately be pro- 

 duced. The head of the tree will be complete- 

 ly balanced ; and the branches will be more 

 nearly equidistant than they could be by any 

 other mode of training asastandard. I should 

 prefer wooden hoops to iron ones. It weak, or 

 if two or more pieces must be employed for the 

 hoop, its circular form may be preserved by 

 two small rods, secured diametrically across it. 

 R. Thompson, in Jour. Hort. Soc. 



White Transparent Carrot. — The pernia 

 nence of certain types of jdants, commonly 

 classed among esculents, is too generally be- 

 lieved. This exaggerated, not to say errone- 

 ous, opinion has been prejudicial to all attempts 

 to improve particular vegetables. In the car- 

 rot, for instance, the variety having a white skin 

 Would seem to has'e been condemned for ever; 

 except, perhaps, the white carrot of Breteuil. 

 Yet it is clear that we do not know the imiu- 

 merable atmospheric influences, as well as those 

 which relate to situation and soil ; all whicli may 

 considerably ameliorate or improve the types 

 of our commonest vegetables. With this view 

 M. Barthel, Sen., of Mulhouse, has lately suc- 

 ceeded in raising a very interesting novelty in 

 the form of a white transparent carrot. It only 

 resembles the other white varieties in size. It 

 is distinguished by its roots being of moderate 

 length, its earliness, and especially by having 

 the appearance of pure white wax overlaid with 

 a coating of shining varnish. Its leaves aie 

 short, finely cut, the collar (formed by the 

 stalks of the leaves) is slender and inserted in a 

 deep cavity. In point of flavor it comes near 

 the red varieties, a circumstance that will render 

 the transition between the red and those com- 

 monly called white, more natural. — Revue Hort. 



YiNE Borders. — I imagine it will be found 

 on trial, under certain conditions, that the most 

 economical and convenient situation for the 

 roots to ramble in, is the ground-floor of the 

 structure in which the vines are grown. And 

 now for the "conditions:" iicat is indispensa- 

 ble; but it must be applied to the surface, and 

 not under the roots; concrete in any shape is 

 not requii-ed; neither is it requisite that the 

 borders should rest on paving stones, sui)ported 

 by walls of masonry. By applying heat to the 

 surface, this is rendered unnecessary. AVith 

 me the roots penetrate through bricks and mor- 

 tar, in order to obtain heat, and with heat I 

 could lead them any where; therefore there 

 need be no fear of their descending into unfa- 

 vorable soil; deep and rich borders must be 

 avoided; as must also carrion or other nos- 

 trums of the day; the natural soil of the Yine 

 should be imitated as far as is practicable ; and 

 tepid soft water, and clear liquid manure, ap- 

 plied freely, when necessary. For supplying 

 heat, leaves or tan answer very well ; and if hot 

 water or hot air is used, then all may be covered 

 permanently with gravel, or anything most con- 

 venient, for the border will never afterwards 

 want to be disturbed. Something similar to 

 what I have attempted to describe has been in 

 practice for the last 16 or 18 years; and the 

 plan has produced fine crops every year, and 

 at all seasons of the year; two crops of grapes 

 could easily be taken from the .same vines in 

 one year; but for permanent vines, that should 

 not be put into practice. — Gard. Chron. 



