September 5, 1867. J 



JOURNAX, OF HORTICDLTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



160 



SPIRAL CORDONS. 



N intelligent corrcsponclent of 

 this Journal seems to be of 

 opinion that spii-al cordons, 

 of wliich I wToto at page 73, 

 would be difficult to syi-inge 

 or water at the roots sepa- 

 rately, whenever so required, on account of the various 

 periods at which the fniit matures. In practice, however, I 

 have never, during the many seasons these cordons have 

 been fruited here, experienced any difficulty on this ac- 

 count. I have always found it easy to avoid sji-inging sucli 

 spirals as had nearly mature fruit on them — that is, a 

 partial wetting has been all that was allowed to fall on the 

 sui-face of ripening Peaches. 



Such partial syringing I found of use in keeping the 

 fruit clean and fresh. I must, however, say that a very 

 great annoyance results from excessive or unsldlful syi-ing- 

 ing; for whenever the full force of the engine or hand- 

 syringe has been dh-ected laterally against any tine speci- 

 men, it was certain more or less to loosen the fruit's hold, 

 and make it drop before its time : so much so that I 

 have ordered syringing to be discontinued diuing this 

 period of so many ripening fniits, to be resumed when- 

 ever a lull occurs in the Peach harvest. It is most try- 

 ing to gather basketsful of fine fruit from the floor of the 

 orchard-house every morning. An immense loss occiu's 

 in tliis way. 



As to sjTinging spiral cordons, there is no more difficulty 

 in so doing than in dealing \^^th several rows of pyramids 

 in pots closely touching each other, and there are various 

 obvious ways of preventing the chief force of the water from 

 falling on any which have fruit nearlj- ripe. On the ope^ 

 wall Nature is by no means particular in these matters : 

 but I readily allow that trees under glass, whether border 

 or pot, are living in an artificial state, and require different 

 treatment. 



The whole question of syringing involves many points of 

 interest to the gardener. As to expecting to do more with 

 the red spider than to wash this pest away by mechanical 

 violence, it is absurd, for this mite thrives in water, one may 

 almost say. and if we syringe these insects ofl' the leaves, 

 tliey fall on the border unhurt. Nothing really destroys 

 them which does not involve the ruin of tlie foUage. A 

 deceased friend, a laborious and scientific entomologist, 

 used to declare that the red spider required as strong a 

 poison to kill it as a human being. Many experunents 

 on their vitality made last season by myself and a clever 

 chemist, with solutions of carbolic acid, resulted in failure. 

 As to sulphur and ammonia, unless presented under 

 dangerous forms, thej' are useless. Washes of soap or 

 size would probably do something, by mechanically fixing 

 Me. 338.— Vol, XIII., New Sebies. 



the insect for awhile only, but these also clog the stomates 

 of the leaves. 



Being convinced that red spider most readily fastens on 

 trees which, either from want of root-action, or from ex- 

 haustion of vitality in any way, push forth weak leaves, I 

 have endeavoured to promote a healthy foliage by all the 

 means in my power. One very efficacious agent to attain 

 this end is an abundant and regular system of watering at 

 the roots. ]\Iauy of my trees ai'e now planted in the bor- 

 ders, simply because no dependance can, in general, be 

 placed on a regular or sufficient supply of water being 

 given to potted trees. By urging on this important point 

 tliis summer, aided by the frequent saturation of the atmo- 

 sphere, very Uttle syringing has been required, and I have 

 never had such fine fruit. Early York Peaches were 

 nearly !) inches in cii-cumference : Acton Scot quite as 

 large as fine Royal George; immense and juicy Early 

 Silver ; Stanwick Nectarine cracking as usual, but of a 

 size never before seen by myself or by others here. I 

 notice some splendid Victoria Nectarines swelling fast, and 

 Princess of Wales Peach, also very large. Early vVlbert 

 Nectarine (one of Mr. Piivers's seedlingsl, is heavily laden, 

 and very fine indeed. Souvenir de Java is anew and gor- 

 geous early Peach. A basket of exquisite Peaches is, as I 

 write, on its way to adorn the dinner-table of the bishop of 

 the diocese, who is in the island. I do not think this basket 

 could easily be equalled in Paris or London, and all this 

 proves clearly to me. at least, that orchard-house trees, in 

 pots especially, have not in general anything like the 

 amount of watering at the roots wliich they need at certain 

 periods. 



Watering is, no doubt, a heavy tax in all cases, except 

 where tlie supply is ample, and I have not seen anywhere 

 a better plan to economise time and labour than that 

 I have long adopted, which consists of a stout central 

 gutter, laid at a regular level, from which short lateral 

 gutters, at about every 2 feet, lafeid to the trees. The sup- 

 ply is easily regulated : a little clay in the aperture of the 

 lateral gutter shuts off any particular ti-ee, and the main 

 stream is readily conducted in any direction. In a few 

 minutes lay new house is completely watered, while others 

 witli expensive hose are almost hours in producing the 

 same result. This method has been adopted by many of 

 •' my pupils." and notably by one at Hampton Court, who 

 has zinc gutters perforated ^\-ith holes, wliich he can stop 

 by merely dropping a stout nail in them. 



There is, therefore, notliing to di-ead on the score of 

 spiral cordons ha\ing too much root- watering at any par- 

 ticular time : if tliere were, it could be obviated by plant- 

 ing groups of tliree instead of five trees, and by liaving 

 these of trees of similar or nearly similar periods of ripen- 

 ing their crop. 



These groups of five, however, are magnificent to look 

 at. and I have no doubt whatever will supersede all other 

 border trees, except diagonals. This year I have allowed 

 extra growth in the shoots, and given abundant water, and 

 this has afforded a stimulus to many au overworked tree. 



Probably wa have been too ready to dispense with those 

 heavy and saturating rains, whicli, under tlie power of 

 Mo.%S,— Vol, XXSTHI.. Ou> Siaixs. 



