April 28, 1870 ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



303 



& great portion of the roots as well, and the space filled np with 

 fresh soil. Every second or third year, however, they should be 

 turned out of the pots completely, the ball and roots reduced 

 two-thirds, and again repotted. In this way the same plants 

 will for many years produce fruit in abundance in the same- 

 sized pot without increasing much in size. — A. B. C. 



MESEMBRYANTHEMUMS FOR BEDDING-OUT. 



Although for many j-ears I have devoted much attention 

 and time to the embellishment of my flower garden, and some 

 seasons almost exhausted my exchequer through upending large 

 sums in procuring all the novelties among the Zonal and other 

 varieties of Pelargoniums whiob have been so strenuously re- 

 commended, yet it never occurred to me, although acquainted 

 with the family of Mesembryauthemnms, to use a selection of 

 the most free-flowering and showy species, such as those of 

 which I send you the names. 



I saw these bedded-out in the flower-garden part of a small 

 nursery ground, of which I do not now recollect the name, but 

 adjoining the station of the London, Chatham, and Dover 

 Railway at Penge ; and excellent was the effect in the way of a 

 gaudy display, although at the advanced end of the season — 

 namely, the first week in November, and at a time when all 

 my Zonal", &c, were destroyed. 



These Mesembryanthemums were certainly most tastefully 

 arranged, producing an effect such as I am confident no other 

 family of plants could furnish at so late a season, nor, indeed, 

 during the most favourable part of the summer. The species 

 were as follows, all planted in long rows in a bed : — Cnrvi- 

 florum, pure white; coccineum major, spectabile, conspicuum, 

 formosum, inclaudens, diversifoliam, glaucnm, glomeratum, 

 aureum majus, a splendid large golden flower, and hispidum, 

 and there were many others equally abundant and perpetual 

 in their habit of flowering with those I have enumerated. — 

 R. Claiske, Chialekunt. 



beoome an ardent believer in orchard houses. At all events, 

 he ought to try them with the trees planted out ere he makes 

 nse of such sweeping accusations against orchard hawses. — 

 J. H. Davis, Hasehcood, Upper Norwood. 



ORCHARD HOUSES. 



I have been much interested in reading the late discussion 

 about orchard houses and their tenants, and venture to add a 

 few plain facta in favour of such structures, as, taking them 

 in all points, they are, when built with the means of applying 

 heat, most useful houses. I think, however, that as a rule, 

 the trees should be planted out ; of course, in those places 

 where labour is abundant and watering no object the pot- 

 system has the advantage of perfect control of the roots ; but, 

 generally speaking, gardeners in spring have as much as they 

 can possibly do, and the having a large orchard house to attend 

 to, with the trees in pots, is a large addition to their labour, 

 and once neglect them and a season is lost. 



I speak feelingly, having a vivid remembrance of a large 

 orchard house in Staffordshire, a beautiful building, but the 

 trees all in pots, and the watering twice a-day was something 

 tremendous, and the amount of fruit not at all in proportion to 

 the amount of labour. My house here is quite small, a span- 

 roof 25 feet square, with about three dozen trees in it, all 

 planted out, and at present it is quite a picture. The trees — 

 Peaches, Nectarines, and a few Apricots — are all in the most 

 robust health and literally covered with fruit ; in addition to 

 this, having seven Vines on the roof, I shall have a good 

 quantity of really first-rate Grapes. Peaches last year measured 

 10i and some 10} inohes round, and Nectarines 8-! inches to 

 9{ inches, and the trees carried a full crop, thank3 to having 

 means to heat the house during the cold sunless weather we 

 had last spring. In fact, nine seasons out of ten an orchard 

 house is almost a certain snccess if unheated, and with the 

 means of heating a gardener is decidedly not clever if he ever 

 fails, let the weather be what it may, accidents of course 

 excepted. 



With the trees planted out, there is no more attention 

 requisite in watering than in a vinery. I give my house liquid 

 manure pretty freely, and look upon the syringe as the most 

 efficient aid in maintaining perfect health and cleanliness. 



One remark of " T. F." is certainly original. He says, 

 " Let us down with such tortare and cruelty, and study the 

 nature and habits of the plants we try to cultivate," See-, and 

 yet his trees are enjoying a good wall and wire trellis — rather 

 queer things to be found in nature ! Standards and bushes 

 are far more natural, and decidedly more profitable. If 

 " T. P." resides in this locality I shall be glad to show him 

 my house, and have no doubt he would be converted and 



SOIL FOR STRAWBERRIES. 



The soil on which I have found Strawberries succeed; best 

 and produce the best crops is a substantial black lonm ; in 

 such, if prepared in the usual way, and a fair portion, of ma- 

 nure added, they will produce good crops for four years. Here, 

 last year, we gathered from part of the varieties cultivated, 

 berries 4 ozs. in weight, and the crop was abundant. The 

 plants were constantly attended to with water from the time 

 that the fruit had set until it was becoming ripe. We never 

 cut off the leaves in autumn, but remove all the summer's 

 growths from the sides of the rows, and then hoe and rake 

 the space between. 



A year ago I planted a new quarter, and the plants are now 

 in splendid condition ; I also had a crop of magnificent 

 Onions between the rows of Strawberries, for the soil is well 

 adapted for both Strawberries and Onions. 



I can readily understand the cause of failure where people 

 have to cultivate a light poor soil, for, with the best of skill on 

 the part of the gardener, Strawberries can never produce, well. 

 They Bhould be removed every three years, and when preparing 

 the ground it should have a large allowance of manure from 

 the cowhouse. In planting, the plants should be made very 

 secure in the ground, all runners Bhould be cut off, and if the 

 weather be dry supply water constantly as above stated. — 

 James Reid. 



TREES AND SHRUBS versus HARES A^D 

 RABBITS. 



Wheke hares and rabbits are numerous and can gain access 

 to pleasure grounds and plantations, the patience of the 

 planter is tried to the utmost. He plants trees and shrubs 

 suitable to the soil, situation, and the object in view, takes 

 care that the ground is properly prepared, that the planting 

 is performed at a favourable time, and pictures to himself the 

 yearly progress j but whether the object be shelter or orna- 

 mental effect, his anticipations are cut short by these four- 

 footed invaders. That hares and rabbits are fond of some 

 things and dislike others, is only what may be expected ; but 

 that they bark trees and cut off the tops of the young and 

 tender snoots from no liking that they have for them for iood, 

 is like saying that rabbits make burrows to play in, and not 

 for shelter and safety. Every thing and every creature are for 

 a purpose, and work, insignificantly though it may be, in some 

 way for the good of man. I may be asked, What good are 

 rabbits and hares ? With regard to rabbits I have no answer 

 to give, except that they are good for food. In some uncul- 

 tivable parts of our island they may be kept with profit. 

 There are thousands of acres not yielding anything, that might 

 be made profitable ; for on our highest hills, and where Brake, 

 Heath, and Gorse, the rock and crag are, there the rabbit 

 would multiply, and would tend to diminish the price of beef 

 and mutton. To defend the keeping of rabbits in highly cul- 

 tivated districts I know is absurd. The sportsman cares little 

 or nothing for them, and most landowners are a3 anxious as 

 the tenants to have them destroyed ; but not, as some would 

 like, by anybody, for they well know that under pretext of 

 killing rabbits tbe gun is levelled at, and the snare, net, and 

 trap set for nobler game. 



Rabbits are far more destructive than hares to trees by 

 peeling off the bark, and are far more difficult to scare or keep 

 from what they take a liking to. Hares not only do not com- 

 mit so much damage as rabbits, but are also more shy; but 

 though they do not attack the bark to such an extent as 

 rabbits, they are very destructive to it, as well as to the tops 

 of young trees, and the young shoots of Bhrubs. 



Where hares and rabbits are numerous it is not a question 

 of what is most suitable for planting, but what will stand a 

 fair chance of escaping their attacks. There are trees and 

 shrubs which they are very fond of and in ordinary v, iaters 

 eat to the quick, some which they do not attack except in very 

 severe winters, and others which they do not touch under any 

 circumstances. Much valuable information has already been 

 given on the subject in the pages of this Journal, but I think it 

 worthy of greater attention than it has hitherto received, and 

 I shall be glad of the experience of others. It cannot be ex- 



