150 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



( August 22, 1865. 



I believe in England unequalled, specimen of an HibiBCUs, the 

 trunk of which cannot be less than 8 inches in diameter. I 

 have often observed the finest solitary specimens of rare plants 

 in places where they might be least expected — amongst the 

 cottages and gardens of the poor. — L. A. 



EATABLE FUNGI. 



YoDR correspondent " Waron " (page 88), is quite right as to 

 the esculent qualities of many of our Fungi. I had the plea- 

 sure of Dr. Badhara's acquaintance, and many dishes of the 

 various Fungi from his table have I tasted. It is vain to try 

 to uproot prejutlice, especially where there "is poison in the 

 pot;" but those who love a botine hnitche should purchase a 

 work on the subject, and try for themselves. I would cspeciaDy 

 recommend to notice the Puff-ball — when the interior is per- 

 fectly white, stewed or fried, it is food fit for the gods ; when 

 the centre has a greenish hue it disagrees — only then. It would 

 be worth "Wason's" while to write to the Ecv. — Berney, 

 Bracon Ashe, near Norwich, who fought information from me 

 about three years ago, as he had commenced growing the 

 various edible Fungi. He invited me the following year to go 

 and see liis progress, but other duties or laziness prevented. 

 I do not know what success he met with, but fear that the ex- 

 cessive dryness of the jiast two seasons may have disheartened 

 him. Dr. Badham was much pleased iu cousequeuce of my 

 succeeding in preserving many specimens, some in Goadby's 

 solutions, some iu turps. I made an exquisite sauce of Cham- 

 pignons with sherry, if I remember rightly, and a quantity of 

 catsup from Agaricus rubescens. — J. Fisok, Banuni/liam, 

 Suffolk. 



THE MODERN PEACH-PRUNER.— No. U. 



THE MlEMATUnE L.VfEKAL. 



As some of the most successful gi-owers have devoted con- 

 siderable attention to the proper treatment of this summer 

 lateral (a«(/ci;)»; of the French), it would be improper here to 

 pass it over; and, indeed, it constitutes a certain basis in 

 veiy close or in-door pruning whereon to establish much after- 

 work. In the open air it is also important, as helping much 

 to keep the fruit nearer to the wall, and closer to the main 

 branch when properly treated. The premature lateral springs 

 directly from the wood of the year whenever that wood is of a 

 cartaiu strength. The gross shoot (class 4). with these summer 

 laterals springing from it, has been already depicted. As an 

 extension of a J'oung and healthy tree it frequently attains a 

 considerable size, and, provided due attention could bo given to 

 directing and controlling its growth, we should be glad to see 

 it ; but the laterals which spring from it, when so placed as to 

 receive a great volume of ascending sap, are apt to be trouble- 

 some to manage. The hotirtieon anticipr is naively called by 

 M. Grin "the enemy of gardeners, and is either of a good 

 or of an evil nature." In the first case it is known by the 

 principal leaf bein.r; considerably longer and broader than the 

 others. This is when it is quite j'omig and manageable, for it 

 very soon becomes vigorous, and is then easily recognised by 

 its erect habit and darker colour. 



During the months of June and July, especially after a 

 favourable May, the gi-owth of the Peach is considerable. The 

 trees reqnh-e constant attention and regulation of the summer 

 shoots, for upon the exact performance of this dejjeuds the 

 future appearance of the tree ; but the growth of summer 

 laterals, when placed on the upper side of the extension, is 

 such that it is not easy to regulate it. The consequence of a 

 neglect is, that the strong flow of sap will develope these laterals 

 so fast as to caiTy away the first pair of well-formed leaves to 

 a distance of 2 or 3 inches from the base in a very short time. 

 This is evidently a defect, and if it should occur in many places 

 must cause the loss of valuable space, and also of radiation 

 of heat. On the other hand, to arrest unskilfully the growth 

 of these laterals iu a young and vigorous tree must check its 

 progress and injure it. In the case of an est:iblished tree, to 

 remove too great a portion of the laterals on the under side of 

 an extension may end in their da-ying up entirely by the end 

 of the season. 



It requires, therefore, both experience and attention to trans- 

 form these laterals into close-lying, and, at the same time, 

 vigorous spurs for future bearing and growth. The general 

 habit of the tree operated on must also be carefully considered. 

 Some sorts of Peaches and Nectarines are naturally of weak 



growth, and such should not be severely treated, but be allowed 

 more freedom of growth, and to become well established before 

 bearing regularly. Indeed the skill and attention required to 

 manage successfully these laterals are such that Professor Du- 

 breuil says, " This is the only portion of M. Grin's method 

 which really presents any difficulty." 



The object which we have in view is to avoid a blank space 

 of more than an inch between the first pair of fuU-sized leaves 

 (which have the bearing-buds with them), and the base of the 

 lateral, for the reasons before stated. Passing over other ex- 

 pedients to check the growth of a too-vigorous lateral on the 

 upper side of an extension, M. Grin's method may be recom- 

 mended here. It consists in the suppression of one-third of 

 the two small leaves which spring immediately from the base 

 of the larger leaf. In fig. 15 these small leaves are marked A, 



Fig. 15. 



and the line of suppression is shown by b. This operation is 

 considered to be alwavs successful provided — and here ia the 

 only difficulty — it be done at the proper moment. This is known 

 by the relative sizes of the leaves as seen in the engraving. 

 There is no doubt that in the case of an orchard-house cordon, 

 which is more easy to watch, the sudden arresting of the sap 

 wiU produce two or more buds, which will constitute a good 

 basis for next year's work. 



Should, however, the lateral have made its growth imcheeked, 

 and have carried oS in its progress the leaves and buds to a 

 distance of several inches, we may be induced to ti-y Professor 

 Gressent's remedy, which he highly recommends, for it is easy 

 to ]ierform, and the defect in our tree is conspicuous. The 

 object in this instance is to cause the production of a cluster- 

 shoot or spur (" May cluster "), at the base of the offending 

 lateral. He proceeds in the following manner. By means of 

 a sharp-pointed instrument or lancet he jjierces the base of 

 the already-developed lateral and the dormant bud near it, so 

 as to produce a deviation of the vessels of the medullary canal, 

 without, however, injuring the ligneous formation. The vessels 

 being cut, a tem]>orary concentration of the cambium is in- 

 duced ; a mass of cellular tissue results, and ends in the pro- 

 duction of a group of flower-buds. By the next spring this 

 group is well constituted, and the lateral may then be sup- 

 pressed, leaving in its stead a group of buds as delineated 

 in tig- 5. 



in fig. 16, A represents the point of section ; c, is the me- 



dullary canal, composed of the primitive cellular tissue en- 

 closed within the wall- like formation of the vascular tissue, c, c ; 



