88 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ July 31, 1866. 



manure directly beneath, and in contact with the roots of the 

 plants, thinking thereby to induce a luxuriant and vigorous 

 growth ; but nothing could be more opposed to reason, and we 

 question very much if the advocates of suck a system of 

 manuring could give a rational explanation of their practice, or 

 make it appear otherwise than contrary to the principles of 

 good gardening. I refer more particularly to the system as 

 applied to hardwooded plants. To certain classes of vege- 

 tables, such as Celery and others of a gross-feeding habit, 

 manure, even in an unadulterated state, may be beneficial ; but 

 to such things as Gooseberries, Raspberries, or Roses, that 

 delight in a cool substantial soil, such a practice cannot be 

 advisable. Nevertheless, the custom prevails, and has even 

 been recommended by some, but recent experience, on our 

 own account, would certainly teach us to dispense with such 

 advice. 



On entering my present situation here, about fifteen months 

 ago, one thing that particularly struck my observation in the 

 kitchen garden was the peculiarly stunted appearance of a 

 quarter of young Gooseberries. On examining them I found 

 that little or no growth had been made during the season. 

 What growth there was had evidently been made late in 

 Slimmer or autumn, but was at the time I examined them 

 (November) quite dead. As far as I could ascertain, they had 

 been planted about three years, and I could clearly perceive 

 that from the time they had been first pruned and planted, no 

 progress whatever had been made. I further learned that the 

 ground had been previously prepared for Asparagus, which had 

 failed, and that a large barrowful of old Mushroom dung had 

 been buried beneath each Gooseberry plant at planting. For 

 reasons which it is unnecessary to explain, it was deemed ex- 

 pedient to let them stand over till the following autumn, but 

 not anticipating great results, and unwilling to lose the ground, 

 a row of Sea-kale was sown between the rows of Gooseberries 

 in spring, which grew amazingly, the plants averaging from 

 5{ to 6 feet across from point to point of the leaves. The 

 Gooseberries, however, made no growth at all, with the excep- 

 tion of a few unhealthy leaves, until late in August and Sep- 

 tember, when a number of them made a few weak shoots that 

 could not have ripened properly, and would most likely have 

 perished in winter as formerly, 'had the plants been allowed to 

 remain. I took up several, and on examining them found the 

 roots white with fungi, covering the stem up to the surface of 

 the ground. The roots in nearly every case were quite dead at 

 the extremities and for some way up ; when touched they fell 

 away in the hand — soft and brittle. From the living portion 

 of them, near the stem, a number of young roots were just 

 pushing, which accounted for their late growth, and which 

 would certainly have perished like the others, thereby depriv- 

 ing the plants of the power to start into growth the following 

 season until late, as they were now doing. The soil about the 

 roots was thoroughly run with spawn, which had the true 

 Mushroom smell, and the old Mushroom dung could be turned 

 out in solid lumps, complete masses of spawn. Later in 

 fcitumn we took the whole of the plants up ; and, although 

 anxious to be economical, we could select only about three 

 dozen tit to plant again, out of about ten dozen ; the remainder 

 had to be made up from the nursery. 



We have had similar experience with Roses. It was decided 

 to make some alteration in a part of the rosery here, as much 

 as anything else for the sake of the Roses, which were in a 

 very unsatisfactory state. They had been taken up and re- 

 planted some three or four years ago, and on taking them up 

 this autumn the greater part of them were in a plight quite 

 similar to the Gooseberries, though not so bad. It was evident 

 that a large proportion of rough half-decayed leaf mould had 

 been put to their roots when planted, for in lifting them it 

 turned out in large fungoid flakes. The roots were all more or 

 less affected, some very much; so, had time permitted, I 

 would have washed the whole of them ; but wishing to take the 

 advantage of the mild weather in November, I had to content 

 myself with trenching the border over deeply, and mixing some 

 well-rotted manure with the soil, adding a quantity of fresh 

 loam to the roots of the plants as I went on. Except in the 

 case of some Chinas, in no instance could I discover that they 

 had benefited by the leaf mould in the form it had been ap- 

 plied. Most of the plants seemed struggling for existence ; 

 whilst some of the strong-growing varieties had pushed through 

 into the stiff loamy subsoil beneath, in some cases to a great dis 

 tanee. I ought to state that the natural soil here is well adapted 

 for Roses — as indicated by their luxuriant growth and abun- 

 dant bloom in other parts of the garden — being a strong loam 



upon a cool dry bottom. It is certain that the character and 

 mode of applying the manure had a good deal to do with the 

 evil. If well-rotted cowdung had been used instead it is not 

 likely there would have been any evil effects, from fungi at 

 least ; but I think it will be admitted that, to apply manure of 

 any description in the manner described is not advisabhe. It 

 appears to me to be like feeding a human being upon bu cher's 

 meat alone. The parallel is only a fair one, and I beli e ve the 

 majority of people would object to such a diet. The laws that 

 regulate the health and well-being of plants are just as nicely 

 balanced as in the case of human beings, and cannot be vio- 

 lated with impunity ; and to bear this in mind and act upon it 

 is the chief secret of success. — J. Simpson (in Scottish Gardener). 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN HARDEN. 



The weather lately has been favourable for the destruction of 

 weeds ; see that they are not allowed to seed amongst Potatoes 

 or Asparagus, where, from the luxuriance that surrounds them, 

 they are apt to escape detection till they have shed their seeds. 

 Attention in proper time to such a matter does not entail a 

 tenth part of the labour that neglect will ultimately occasion. 

 As there is every appearance of a change to rain, finish plant- 

 ing out Broccoli and Winter Greens as speedily as ground can 

 be obtained, for unless the autumn should prove very favour- 

 able, those planted after this time will not attain much size. 

 Endive, let it be planted in very rich soil. Onions, provide 

 ground for the winter crop. Lettuce, maintain a succession, 

 and attend to other small Salads. Parsley, see to securing a 

 good supply for winter use, as it is always largely in demand. 

 A good bed should be planted in some convenient place for 

 protecting it during severe weather in winter. The soil should 

 be of a light texture, deep, and thoroughly drained as a preven- 

 tive against damp in winter. Sjnnaclt, select a piece of light 

 open ground, and prepare it for Winter Spinach by giving a 

 heavy dressing of manure and trenching or digging it deeply. 

 This crop should be sown at once, and in drills in beds, allow- 

 ing wide alleys so as to be able to gather the crop without 

 treading on the ground. 



FECIT flAKDEN. 

 The tendency to excessive luxuriance exhibited by espalier 

 trees renders the operations of disbudding, stopping, and 

 shortening shoots more particularly essential. The whole 

 principle of pinching is merely this — in the first place, to pinch 

 all young shoots not necessary for the framework of the tree ; 

 secondly, to stop those shoots which threaten to overgrow their 

 neighbours, by which means a due equilibrium of the branches 

 will be maintained ; and, finally, having commenced a system 

 of repression, continue it in regard to lateral shoots, which are 

 developed by this system of stopping. While, according to the 

 plan usually pursued, every encouragement is afforded to the 

 powerful development of roots by the application of soil, a ne- 

 cessary limitation of wood destroys the balance of force between 

 the two. Root-pruning is thus obviously suggested, and may, 

 in the proper season, be practised with advantage. If atten- 

 tion has been paid to pinching the shoots according to pre- 

 vious directions, there will at this time probably be found on 

 the branches which have undergone the operation a little tuft 

 of three or four or even more lateral shoots. It is a good time 

 now to look to the young spray : in some cases the chief shoot 

 may be shortened back to the last lateral, allowing it to become 

 the leader, and if that should take a development stronger than 

 is advisable, it must again be pinched. More cases of this kind 

 are offered by the Peach than any other fruit tree. The prin- 

 ciple holds good with all of them. The practice above alluded 

 to, if regularly pursued for several seasons, will yearly become 

 less troublesome ; for the tree will become accustomed to such 

 treatment, and gradually acquire the desired habit. Keep the 

 Vines carefully tacked in, and the laterals constantly stopped. 

 Let the free-growing shoots of Plums be regularly laid in, as 

 they are apt to become awkward in training if left too long. 

 Strawberry-runners should be procured from new plantations 

 without delay. Those who cannot spare ground for a new 

 plantation may prick thein out in prepared beds about 6 inches 

 apart, and remove them with balls in October or in the early 

 part of February. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



Plants of a weakly habit of growth may be assisted in dry 

 weather by an occasional watering with manure water, hut for 

 those that grow too strongly there is no help except thinning 



