86 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



t July 31, 1866. 



are, nevertheless, an Eesthetic people. They are often extra- 

 vagant in their outlays for matters of taste, ornament, and 

 display. They cultivate the beautiful in dress, furniture, and 

 the surroundings of their homes. Were there not a demand 

 for the expensive novelties we see continually advertised in 

 their agricultural and horticultural journals, they would not 

 be offered. A seed of the Victoria regia for one dollar — a fine 

 Lily bulb newly from Japan for eight dollars, — a Yeddo Grape 

 Vine, also from Japan, for ten dollars, a new Gladiolus bulb or 

 Dahlia tuber at three or five dollars, a new species of Spruce 

 seed three dollars per ounce, are specimens of advertisements 

 by no means rarely to be found in the journals referred to. 

 The large scale on which some things are raised and sold can- 

 not fail to attract attention. Grape cuttings are sold by the 

 million. Cranberry vines by the barrel, and a nursery of two, 

 or three hundred acres in extent is not uncommon. As for the 

 sale of such common nursery articles as Apple, Pear, Plum, 

 and Cherry trees, they are past enumeration. 



Is the rage for these things excessive and reprehensible? 

 We are not prepared to say that it is. Of all extravagance 

 that can possibly be committed, surely there is none bo ex- 

 cusable as that which is expended on the beautiful and useful 

 things of nature. Condemn, if you please, costly dressing, 

 flashy jewellery, splendid equipage, expensive cookery, and 

 lavish architecture, but respect the eagerness to collect and 

 plant about one's house the lovely and valuable creations of 

 God, — the flowers and fruits that declare His glory and show 

 forth His handiwork. 



We, in Canada, need no checking in this direction, but rather 

 urging. We have thousands of rural homes that have not a 

 beautiful thing in all their surroundings, except the landscape 

 and the sky. Many a farm has no fruit on it except a few 

 Strawberries on the edge of the woods, a straggling patch or 

 two of Raspberries in the fence corners, or mayhap a few 

 Huckleberry bushes in some neglected spot. Our nurserymen 

 are very poorly encouraged. Any travelling irresponsible 

 peddler of fruit trees is patronised before well-known persons 

 who have a stake in the country and a character to maintain ; 

 and we have plenty of farmers who have yet to buy and plant 

 their first fruit tree. Matters are improving somewhat, but 

 we are very far behindhand in all matters of taste and refine- 

 ment. There are, we are glad to know, many attractive country 

 homes in various parts of Canada, and some neighbourhoods 

 are fast acquiring a reputation for the culture of fruits, flowers, 

 and rural beauty in general. But these are exceptions. We 

 hope they will, ere long, become the rule. For natural advan- 

 tages, we have a land that cannot be surpassed. Let us enrich 

 and adorn it with fruits and flowers, with shrubs and trees. 

 Much may be done at but little cost. The taste once exercised 

 will improve, and busyiDg itself to multiply the delights of 

 home, will enjoy them with an ever-increasing relish. — (Canada 

 Farmer.) 



GRAFTING ROSES. 



Although a little behindhand, perhaps, at least as regards 

 season, it may be interesting to some of your readers to know 

 my system of grafting Roses. The process is so very simple, 

 that it may described in two or three words. I merely bind 

 with a piece of indian-rubber band, and fasten the end with a 

 bit of thread, that done the operation is complete. This is 

 not only simple, but it is a cleanly and most expeditious 

 method of grafting. I do not hesitate to say that an expert 

 hand could work off two or three for one he could do in the 

 usual way. There can be no mistake as to its being a success- 

 ful mode of grafting, which the following facts, I think, will 

 show. 



About the beginning of March I selected a few of the best 

 shoots I could find of two or three new varieties which I had 

 received from the nursery about a month or so before. They 

 had been knocked about a good deal, and even the best of the 

 shoots looked anything but promising. Having, however, a 

 few Manetti stocks by me, I thought I would give them a trial. 

 I therefore grafted them in the way above mentioned, and 

 potted them in four-inch pots, after which I placed them in a 

 frame having a little bottom heat. They soon began to show 

 signs of life, and towards the end of April they were fit for 

 planting out. One or two of them are now nearly as large as 

 the originals, and will soon be in flower. I grafted them in 

 different ways — viz., whip with tongue, plain splice, and cleft, 

 and with each was equally successful. 



This is not all. On the 4th of May I had a small cutting 



given me of a variety I had not grown. The plant from which 

 it was taken had been shifted late and had not as yet made 

 any growth. I put the cutting into my pocket with the full 

 intention of placing some damp moss round it as soon as I 

 left the garden, as I was at the time a long way from home ; 

 but, notwithstanding my good intention, I forgot all about it 

 until I reached home in the following evening at a late hour. 

 When I drew it from my pocket it had very much the appear- 

 ance of having been baked in an oven, it was so completely 

 shrivelled up. Thinking there might be a probability of its 

 reviving, I put it into a tumbler with a little water and allowed 

 it to remain until the Monday morning, when it again ap- 

 peared quite plump and fresh. I had certainly little or no 

 hope of being able to make anything of it, but as an experi- 

 ment it was worth trying, I thought. I therefore looked out 

 a suitable stock, and grafted it at about G inches from the 

 ground in the way before described, and it is now also growing 

 nicely. The stock which I used on this occasion is the same 

 as that mentioned by me about two or three years ago, and 1 

 take this opportunity of stating, that in some respects it is 

 superior to the Manetti ; it is eligible for working above ground, 

 which the Manetti is not ; it also produces a more vigorous 

 growth. Like the Manetti it gives no trouble whatever with 

 suckers, will grow almost anywhere, and live through our 

 severest winters. 



I have been a little particular in relating the above circum- 

 stance, in order to show that a nice-headed standard is ob- 

 tainable in one season instead of two, which, in the ordinary 

 way, is at present required, and that with very little trouble, 

 for the operation can be performed almost as quickly as that 

 of budding. 



My system may be objected to on the ground of expense, 

 but i think from the price at which rings are at present sold, 

 indian-rubber grafting bands could be produced at a very trifling 

 cost ; and of this I feel certain, that if once introduced we would 

 one and all, professional and amateur, for the smaller kinds of 

 plants at all events, wash our hands and say good-bye to pitch 

 and plaster. 



I am here reminded of another sort of plaster — viz., that 

 recommended for budding by "Amateur," at page 3. I have 

 not yet given it a trial, not having any of it by me, but I have 

 tried many other things, and find that nothing answers the 

 purpose so well as narrow tape. 



The use of red lead mentioned at page 451 of the last 

 volume is not new; it appeared in the columns of this 

 Journal, if I mistake not, about three or four years ago. I 

 have used it regularly since, and I take this opportunity of 

 testifying to its efficacy as a preservative for sown seeds. — 

 Loch Ness. 



ADJUSTABLE HOE. 



Among the advantages possessed over the common hoe are 

 mentioned the following : — 1st. Time is saved in selecting a 

 hoe with the blade to hang rightly ; this blade being adjustable, 

 can be set at any angle, with the handle to suit the height of 

 the person using it ; 2nd, This can be easily and quickly done 

 by a little wrench, found neatly and conveniently screwed into 

 the end of the handle ; also, the handle can be shortened or 

 lengthened 2J inches when desirable, the joint being secured 

 by teeth which are out of sight when the hoe is in working 

 position, estimated to be as strong as any part of the hoe. 

 3rd, The inner side of the blade may be groimd as the outer 

 side, and when it is worn out a new one can be placed in the 

 same handle at a small expense ; also, different sized and 

 shaped blades may be obtained. 4th, By setting the blade at 

 a proper angle the hoe becomes converted into a light shovel 

 or spade, and becomes useful for cutting turf-borders ; also, 



