378 



JO0RNAL OP HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ November 19, 1868. 



den, Fearn'a Pippin, and Scarlet Crofton do well, and similar 



diversity is exhibited by Pluma. 



Wlien the weeding-out of unsnitable sorts is complete, and 

 such minor improvements of cultivation as will result from 

 experience are introduced, a considerable amount of success 

 may be expected to attend these gardens. The above remarks 

 show how necessary it is that the great difference between 

 private gardens and commercial gardens (general excellence in 

 the one case, special excellence in the other), should be steadily 

 pursued. The orchard districts of the western and mid-western 

 counties afford soils and climates of great value for fruit-grow- 

 ing, and may if judiciously utilised supply the larger towns, 

 especially of Scotland and the north of England, with abun- 

 dance of good and cheap second-class fruit, such as is in ordi- 

 nary demand for family consumption, without materially affect- 

 ing the metropolitan districts, whose advantages of climate, 

 manure, and situation fit them for producing the superior sorts. 



I am inclined to think the Apple, Pear, and Plum trees in 

 Mr. Vardeu's gardens would more effectually resist spring frosts 

 if the ground round their stems were kept free from shade and 

 undergrowth to a greater distance, the soil to that extent left 

 undisturbed further than by hoeing and weeding, and a dressing 

 of manure, somewhat larger than the present, applied wholly 

 on the surface. This would encourage the roots to grow nearer 

 the surface, where the temperature would be higher and the 

 moisture less than lower down, and the result would be a 

 smaller growth of better-ripened wood. 



CALCEOLARLV DISEASE. 



After so frequently hearing of Calceolaria failures during 

 the past summer, it is pleasing to read of the success of 

 " M. H.," detailed at page S12 ; and as I quite agree with your 

 correspondent as to the importance of deep culture and a cool 

 subsoil, a few notes which I have to offer concerning the 

 disease and its causes may not be out of place. It may be 

 well, perhaps, to state that with me Calceolarias have flourished 

 this season ; the only marked effects produced by the drought 

 and heat were a shorter period of blooming than is usual, and, 

 consequently, an earlier and stronger autumn growth. 



In examining diseased plants I have observed that the bark 

 has invariably been either quite dead or else very much de- 

 cayed at the collar of the plant, and thus, an obstruction having 

 taken place between the roots and foliage so as to prevent 

 the rising of the sap, disease and death quickly followed. Now, 

 if it be granted that the collar of the plant is the actual seat 

 of the disease, I would then inquire what is the cause of this, 

 and why should the signs of decay first occur at this parti- 

 cular place, rather than at the roots, or in the branches ? Is 

 it that some slight injury or bruise has been inflicted on the 

 delicate bark of the plant in some of the earlier stages of 

 growth, and that it has gradually spread till it has formed a 

 ring of decayed bark and thus brought about the fatal result ? 

 Or is it that in some soils certain salts or acids are contained, 

 which, when exhibited in a sufficient quantity, act so strongly 

 upon the bark as to dry up its tissues ? That this is likely to 

 be the case I am inclined to think, because no signs of disease 

 are perceptible in either the winter or spring months, but it is 

 after the soil has been for some time subjected to the action 

 of the burning rays of the summer sun, just, in fact, as the 

 plants have become established in their summer quarters, and 

 are putting forth their blossoms, that the canker makes its 

 appearance, and from this I infer that the moisture of the soil 

 which has hitherto exercised a restraining influence, being now 

 absorbed by the sun's rays, the poisonous qualities of the soil 

 are set free, and their deadly action but too soon becomes ap- 

 parent. Or, it may be that the evil is occasioned by a deficiency 

 of some constituent in the soil. Whether in either of these 

 theories is to be found the true cause of the Calceolaria disease 

 I will not presume to say, and in advancing them I by no 

 means intend to infer that I have arrived at the actual cause, 

 but it is rather in the hope that others may be induced to offer 

 their experience on this subject, and that sufficient light may 

 be thrown on it, in order that some definite conclusion may 

 be arrived at. 



The small number of good yellow-flowered bedding plants 

 adds to the importance of this subject, and should varieties in 

 any class be much increased, I am inclined to doubt if a fitting 

 subtitute will ever be found for those charming plants — Cal- 

 ceolarifts. Yeliow-foliaged plants are very useful and effective, 

 but they are not ta he compared to Calceolaria Anreafloribunda, 



possessing as it does a soft and lovely freshness of appearance 

 which is the peculiar property of blossom, and to which foliage 

 never approaches. 



To return to the question of disease. I have generally ob- 

 served that it most affects plants which have received some 

 severe check in their early stages, or those which, having been 

 propagated late in spring, are forced into a quick growth to 

 render them large enough by the time they are wanted for 

 planting out. Another evil is planting in a poor shallow soil. 

 I met with an instance of this during the past summer in a 

 garden the soil of which was not more than 15 inches in depth, 

 resting on a substratum of chalk. In this case nearly the 

 whole of the Calceolarias had succumbed, while with me in 

 some beds not having a greater depth of soil, but with a cool 

 clayey subsoil, the plants were all that could be wished, quite 

 equal in health and vigour to some others growing in a much 

 deeper soil. 



It may, perhaps, be useful if I conclude this paper with a 

 short summary of the mode of culture which is best calculated, 

 if not entirely to overcome the disease, at all events to check it. 



Let a sufficient number of strong cuttings be firmly inserted 

 in a rich, sandy soil in a cold frame or pit in the first week in 

 October. Let them be well watered, and slightly shaded when 

 first put in, and watered as often afterwards as signs of flagg- 

 ing are perceptible. Let no air be given till the cuttings have 

 rooted, and but little water will be required. On examining 

 about two thousand cuttings to-day (November 11th) which 

 have been so treated, 1 found the greater part had made roots, 

 and all were looking well ; not one showed the least signs ol 

 failing. Protect them from frost with dry litter, giving air on 

 all suitable occasions, and let the plants be removed to mora 

 roomy quarters early in March, still taking care to afford them 

 a rich soil, so as to promote vigorous growth ; and let them 

 eventually be planted out in the flower beds with good balls of 

 earth at their roots, and in a rich cool soil, which has been 

 deeply stirred, and I venture to assert that but little, if any, 

 disease will occur, and it is very rarely that plants so treated 

 suffer at all from green aphis. 



I quite agree with "M. H.," in assigning the leading placa 

 amongst yellow-flowered varieties to Aurea floribunda, and to 

 Victor Emmanuel amongst crimsons. Another most excellent 

 variety, though, perhaps, not quite so decided in its colour as 

 the preceding kinds, is Prince of Orange, an entire bed of which 

 offers to the eye a mass of rich orange brown as beautiful as it 

 is uncommon. It is to be regretted that Canariensis is so weak 

 and sickly in its growth, for its large flowers of a softer shade 

 of yellow than Aurea floribunda, and its dwarf, compact growth, 

 render it a desirable variety.' — Edwakd LucKnoKST, Egerton. 

 House Gardens, Kent. 



GOOD MELONS AND CUCUMBERS. 



I A5r not placed in the same predicament as your corre- 

 spondent, " W. H. C," in regard to Melons, but equally so in 

 regard to Cucumbers, for I ordered some of the finest exhi- 

 bition varieties of a very old-established firm, and received 

 some of the most remarkable productions any person would 

 wish to see ; for they were short and long, and varied from a 

 dirty yellow and dark green, but all seemed to be excellent 

 seeders, as I could have obtained any quantity of seed from 

 them. Not thinking them worthy I discarded the lot, and 

 began afresh with my old favourite, Telegraph, which I have 

 never found to fail in producing good Cucumbers, but it must 

 be struck from cuttings, as it is seldom that one, can obtain any 

 seed from the true variety. 



In regard to Melons I am something like your correspondent. 

 I had Malvern Hall Melon, but whether true or not I cannot 

 say, because I have not seen any one but my own, and that 

 was somewhat as " W. H. C." has described it ; in fact, not 

 worth growing. 



This year I have been much more fortunate in my selection 

 of new Melons, having obtained Sultan, I believe one of the 

 finest varieties for flavour grown, a freer setter, and attaining 

 the weight of from 3} to 4 lbs. It is also not liable to crack 

 as some thin-skinned Melons are. The only fault I found in 

 this most excellent Melon was, that after it had been cut for 

 three or four days it began to lose its flavour. 



Another new Melon which I would recommend is Dr. Hogg, 

 which, although not so rich in flavour as Sultan, is yet a fine 

 Melon, a free setter, and strong grower. It is about three 

 weeks later than Sultan when both are planted together. The 

 great merit of this variety, however, is its keeping qualities ; I 



