December 11, 1B73 ] 



jodrnaij of horticulture and cottage qabdenek. 



469 



stove plants, on account of their height soon exceeding that 

 of their glazed residence, but that objection seems now to have 

 been removed, for the scienced editor of Tlic Ii-hli Farmers' 

 Gazette writes as follows : — 



" When, some few years ago, people in these countries were 

 first made famUiar, by means of imported full-grown living 

 stems, vrith examples of the gigantic l-'em Flora of New Zealand 

 and other distant lands, the impression obtained that their in- 

 crease in height and bulk was an exceedingly slow process, and 

 speculation was rife as to the great age of these black, fossil- 

 like, yet living patriarchs of the antipodean Fern gullies. Ex- 

 perience has, however, dissipated tlie impression and set at 

 naught the speculation. From what we now know of the growth 

 and development of tree Ferns under glass, the conclusion is 

 inevitable that as regards rapidity in both respects they have 

 few equals in the wide range of the vegetable kingdom. Here 

 is an example necessitating the bold and successful experiment 

 •which we shall describe presently. 



Woodeul h;p«rborca. 



" Very few of those who may read this but will have been to 

 «ee Mr. Bewley's famous fernery at Rockvillo, Blackroek, and 

 admired the stately tree Ferns which rear their tall stems and 

 expand their luxuriant coronals beneath its lofty double-glazed 

 roof, which roof we have seen threatened to be lifted from its 

 fastenings, or, at all events, burst through by the sheer force of 

 vegetation, as exemplified by the marvellous development of 

 the growiDg fronds. Now, this fernery is not many years at all 

 erected, and yet more than once has the rapid growth of the 

 New Zealand tree Ferns created a difBcnlty by threatening to 

 lift the roof or find their way through it. This difficulty was 

 met more than once by the expedient of sinking in the floor and 

 lowering the roots and stems. This succeeded for a time ; but 

 there waa a point beyond which the sinking process could not 

 be carried, and meanwhile the huge ebon volutes of Cyatbea 

 mednllaris again touched the roof. What was to be done ? the 

 roof should either go up or the New Zealanders come away. 



"In this fix a bold and hazardous experiment suggested itself, 

 which was at once carried into operation, and so far with most 

 satisfactory results. Each tree waa lifted from its position, laid 

 prone upon its side, and with no keen knife or cunning hand, 

 but witn an ordinary cross-cut, worked by strong arms, con- 

 nection between stem and root was quickly severed at the collar. 

 The stem, however, was yet too long, and the saw went to work 

 again, taking another section, and reducing its length by some 

 3 or 4 more feet. Again was the rootless stem, with its spread- 



ing frond.s, placed upright in its position, and made firm in its 

 roekwork mound. lu repJantiu^', the only precaution taken by 

 Mr. Sayers — Mr. Bewley's very worthy and intelligent gardener 

 — was that no soil should be iu immediate contact with the 

 stump ; clinkers, broken bricks, and such like only being allowed 

 to touch the buried portion. Nothing could be more satis- 

 factory than the result : the subjects thus summarily operated 

 on seemed scarcely conscious of it, but boldly held up their 

 leafy honours, and continued to throw-up new fronds, and are 

 now growing away as though nothing happened ; but rather 

 look as if that ere many more years go by they will caE for a 

 repetition of the operation. 



" When congratulating Mr. Sayers on the success which at- 

 tended his bold experiment, he modestly, and, as we believe, 

 truly, said, ' In any other than a double-glazed house I do not 

 believe it would have been so successful.' " 



Potato-growing Exteaoedixaky. — Some extraordinary re- 

 sults in the way of Potato-growing are reported from^ the 

 United States. Last spring Messrs. Bliss, of New York, 

 offered premiums for the greatest weight of sound tubers 

 grown from 1 lb. of two of their new seedling Potatoes. The 

 conditions were stringent, to prevent any overreaching, and 

 the competitors were required to make a sworn declaration that 

 they had been observed. For Early Vermont, Mr. J. I. Salter, 

 Stearns Co., Minnesota, obtained the first prize of 100 dollars, 

 having produced C09 lbs. ; the second prize of 75 dollars fell 

 to Mr. Pearson, of St. Lawrence Co., N.Y., for 437 lbs. only. 

 For Compton's Surprise, the first prize of 100 dollars was ob- 

 tained by Mr. A. Robinson, of Rockingham Co., New Hamp- 

 shire, for 51U lbs. ; the second to Mr. Pearson for 450 lbs., and 

 the third to Mr. Salter for 394 lbs. Four prizes were given 

 for each sort, the best average being made by Compton's Sur- 

 prise, which gave a remarkable produce in many parts of the 

 States. But G09 lbs. from one is an extraordinary result, when 

 we are told that only the usual methods of planting were per- 

 mitted, propagating from slips being expressly forbidden. — 

 {English Mechanic.) 



"WOBK FOE THE "WEEK. 



KITCHEN GABDEN. 



Prepare another bed of Asparagus to keep-up a succession ; 

 use well-prepared dung and leaves. The weather up to the pre- 

 sent time having been so favourable to the growth of Broccoli, 

 the means before recommended should be resorted to to check 

 it, and to prevent the frost having direct influence on the heart 

 of the plant. Earth-up Cabbage if not done, as the weather is 

 favourable. If young Carrots are wanted very early, seed should 

 now be sown on a slight hotbed. Dung should be prepared for 

 early Cucumbers ; it should be well shaken to pieces and mixed, 

 as on this being properly done depends the length of time which 

 the bed retains its heat. Take advantage of the present fine 

 weather to tie-up Endive, and house a quantity. Another crop of 

 Divarf Kidney Beans may now be sown if a constant succession 

 is required. It frost should be likely to set in severely, cover 

 Feas and Beans that are up with partially-decayed leaves. 

 Cinder ashes should never be used for this purpose. Every fine 

 mild day draw-off the lights entirely from young Eadislics ; this 

 will give them strength to form bottoms. Continue to cover a 

 small portion of iSc«-^-n?e at a time. When the first portion is 

 cut and the pots or tubs are taken off, cover the roots with a 

 little litter to prevent their being injured by frost. 



PnUIT GARDEN. 



Continue pruning and nailing fruit trees. Let the standard 

 trees in the orchard have their share of attention. Take off 

 shoots for grafting ; select those which are moderately vigorous 

 and that are growing at the end of bearing shoots. In cases 

 where several branches of a tree have become so luxuriant as to 

 prevent a fair distribution of sap, or where the gi-owth has been 

 so rampant as to prevent the formation of blossom-buds, cui; 

 the strongest roots so as to check the too-luxuriant branches, 

 as uniform growth will be attended with advantage, inasmuch 

 as vigour and fruitfulness are severally promoted by directly 

 opposite means. The practice frequently recommended of cut- 

 ting the roots every year or so and surrounding them with a 

 trencbful of rich manure, though, I doubt not, attended with 

 good results, possesses this anomalous feature, that the system 

 owes the whole of its success to a perpetual doing and undoing, 

 producing fertility by rendering the tree deficient of nourish- 

 ment at one time, and supplying it with too much at another. 

 When trees are not so productive as they ouphl to be from over- 

 luxuriance, raising the roots nearer the surface, applying no 

 manure except as mulching, and attending to early and judicious 

 summer pruning, are to be preferred to a yearly mutilation of 

 the roots, except under circumstances where it is desirable to 

 have as many fruit-bearing trees upon as small a piece of ground 



