m 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTUBB AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



( Mmj U, 1806. 



bnt where a mixed collection of plants was kept np. a ypnng 

 lady had three or four Pine suckers given her, and pho wished 

 them, for the sake of cariosity, to be kept amongst the flowering 

 plants in a sort of half-stove half-greenhouse, in which were 

 some creepers infested with white scale. I need hardly observe 

 that the Pine snckerii were speedily attacked, and the place 

 not being at all suitable to their growth, it was dortcrmined to 

 throw them awny. This was in midwinter, and some hot 

 dnag being fermenting in a heap for foroing-pnrpoReR, instead 

 of throwin?; them away I buried one of the best of them in 

 ihe hot dung, after removing the pot, scil, and a great pcrlinnof 

 the roots. It remained there about twt-nty-foUT hoars, was then 

 slightly washed, potted, and placed in a frame heated by hot 

 water and intended for Melons, which, in fact, occnpied the 

 rest of the compartment. The half-starved insect-covered 

 plant speedily showed symptoms of doing better, and grew on 

 rapidly, showing fruit and ripening in the same year one of 

 about 4 Ib.s. weight, which was very good for a Queen. I men- 

 tion this case as one t! a', came under my own management, 

 for, like Mr. Thomson, I have never had a collection of plants 

 infested with this insect to deal with, and I confess that I 

 should look with dismay on the appearance of a single scale 

 insect on any one of those I might liaviA in charge. 



One further observation is proper t.) make on the work in 

 question. Mr. Thomson thinks there must bo a spurious 

 variety of the Smooth-leaved Cayenne in cultivation aswellasthe 

 tme one, and in describing the kinds which he recommends I 

 promised to allude to this. Having in my own practice always 

 regarded the Queen and Black .Jamaica as the all-important 

 varieties, I cannot give any opinion on this subject ; bnt I 

 never saw the Smooth-leaved Cayenne in so good a condition 

 as 1 did last year at Archerfield, Dalkeith, and one or two 

 oiher places in Scotland. Mr. Thomson and his brother at 

 l)alkeith grow it more extensively than they do Queens, and 

 iliey estimate its weight when fully swelled to he about 1 lb. 

 per pip — i.e., a fruit eight pips in height would, when ripe, weigh 

 Its many pounds. Queens were thought very good if they 

 weighed half a pound per pip. The Smooth-leaved Cayenne, 

 as grown by Mr. Thomson, of Archerfield, was cert^iinly a very 

 fine fruit, and the iilant not by any means nnwieldly. Three 

 plants in pots, with fruit not quite ripe, were sent to the 

 Edinburgh International Show last September, and were, per- 

 haps, as much admired as anything there. The fruit would, I 

 believe, average from 7 to 8 lbs. or more, the plants being 

 dwarf and in p t< by to means large. Queens were equally 

 good, and. I believe, one or more in Mr. Thomson's collection 

 e'zoeeded 5 lbs. 



In drawing this review to a close I can heartily recommend 

 tiie perusal of Mr. Thomson's little work to all practical gar- 

 deners. However successful they may have been in the particular 

 branch of culture on which it treats, they will most likely find 

 something fresh ; wliile on the less experienoed it has a double 

 claim, as the practice of oue of our best Pine-growers is clearly 

 and ably laid down in all its details. If proof were wanting 

 of the good quality of the fruit grown at Archerfield, I would 

 only say that last September several BngUsU gardeners wit- 

 nessed what was to be seen there. I remember meeting at 

 that place a nobleman's gardener of high standing in one of 

 the midland counties, and after looking at the Pines and in- 

 itaitable flower-beds he cast his eyes iiround, and then on the 

 ground, and inquired if there was not sometliing peculiarly 

 favourable both in the soil and climate to produce such results, 

 or rather help to do so ; yet few places woiildseem to be less 

 favoured by its situation, which is on a plaiii of considerable ex- 

 tent, bordering on the German Ocean and Firth of Forth, the 

 latter being only a mile off. That a combination of circum- 

 rtances favoured in some degree the d'nt door department 

 would appear certain, but there can be no question that from 

 the truly artificial conditions under which thb Pine Apples 

 were placed, they might almost as well havcbeen grown on the 

 tap of Ben Tjomond as where they were, if managed with the 

 Mme skill. That Mr. Thomson's Treatise may not meet the 

 approbation of every one is very likely ; but I for one would 

 be aniious to see what criticisms are made upon it, and trust 

 BO one will be deterred from making such if they deem them 

 necessary. My own views may be gleaned from the preced- 

 ing observations, which, though directed to the work in ques- 

 tion, were, nevertheless, based on a visit to Archerfield. — 



J. BOBSON. 



New Plasts at Mr. Boll's.— In the occonnt of these, at 

 page 389, by a slip of the pen, Schistocasia Portei is placed 



among the Orchids, instead of being inchidcd, as it ought to 

 have been, among the Aroida. 



TOBACCO— ITS CULTURE. 



[We have so many readers in America and our colonies, and 

 so many who are emigrating ask from us iufurmation relative 

 to the culture of the staple crops of the countries whither they 

 are proceeding, that we purpose occasionally publithing dctailB 

 which will supply the particulars they require. — Eds.] 



There are some thirty species of N'icutiana, only two of 

 which, N. tabacum and N. rustica, are much cultivated. Of 

 these two, only one is generally grown — N. tabacum. Of this 

 there are several varieties, each of which possesses qualities 

 peculiar to itself, or qualities derived from the different soils, 

 modes of cultivation, curing, &c. Each cultivator selects such 

 variety as he thinks best adapted to his soil, climate, A-c. The 

 variety which will be noticed in the following is the Connec- 

 ticut Seed Leaf. This, when properly grown on suitable soil, 

 attains a larger and more perfect growth than any other known 

 variety ; the stem is erect and strong, attaining 7 feet in hi ight 

 or more ; the leaves often grow to the length ol 4 feet, and 

 •2 feet in breadth. The flowers are trumpet-shaped, and of a 

 rose colour. The seed-bolls or capsules are ovoid, from ouc-half 

 to three-quarters of an inch in diameter, divided into cells 

 compactly filled with minute seeds, which, when well ripened 

 and properly saved, will retain their germinativo properties ten 

 years, as found by experience. This variety is the one grown 

 for, and the most suitable for wrappers to fine cigars. It also 

 combines the various qualities of hardiness, fineness of leaf, 

 and quick maturity, so desirable in a climate like the northern 

 and western States. Skilfully grown on properly enriched soil, 

 it will yield 2,800 lbs. to the acre, in extreme cases 3,000 lbs. 



Seed. — At topping-time let a desirable number of the earliest 

 and best plants go without topping, keeping all the lower 

 branches broken off. When the general crop is ripe, strip the 

 leaves off and tie the stem to a stake. It is ripe when, without 

 freezing, the capsules are quite brown ; cut the seed with about 

 2 feet of the stalk, and hang it in a dry place, where it will not 

 be disturbed. When wanted for use, select the best bolls, rub 

 out the seed with the hands, and screen through a fine sieve. 



Seed-bed. — A warm, sheltered situation, a deep, rich, sandy 

 loam, free from weeds or seed, is the best. Plough or spade, 

 in the fall, 10 or 12 inches deep ; make level by harrow or rake, 

 and cover closely with Tobacco stalks laid on straight. In 

 spring, as soon as the ground will work well, remove the stalks 

 and plough 3 or 4 inches deep, making a very narrow furrow- 

 slice ; and into each furrow, as turned, strew guano or hen 

 manure quite freely; work in on the surface three pecks to a 

 bushel of poudrette to the square rod, and make the soil as 

 fine and the surface as smooth and level as possible. Use a 

 table-spoonful of seed to each square rod of bed ; mix it with 

 sand, and sow broadcast very evenly ; finish hy rolling with a 

 heavy roller. Make the beds 10 or 12 feet wide, that being a 

 convenient width in working; cover with brush to keep fowls 

 off, and to prevent radiation. To weed the bed, remove the 

 brush, and stretch a plank across the bed, using blocks under 

 the ends to prevent the middle from settling on to the plants 

 when yon sit on it to weed. The bed ahould be kept carefully 

 clean of all weeds. 



Soils. — A sandy loam, neither very light nor heavy, is (be 

 best ; the farther removed from this the poorer the quality of 

 Tobacco. Ground which has been cultivated with some hoed 

 crop is the best, and produces the finest-grained leaf; such 

 should be ploughed twice, the first time in April or early in 

 May, the second about the 20th or 25th of May. It should be 

 well done ; ploughing deep and with narrow furrow-slices, and, 

 between the first and second ploughing, using the harrow to 

 keep down weeds, &c. 



Makcres and thkie Aptlicatiok. — The main reliance is to 

 be placed on farm or yard manure. Tobacco grows quickly, is a 

 a gross feeder, and needs large quantities of the best manure to 

 feed on ; from twenty to twenty-five cords per acre should ha 

 well fined, spread broadcast over the surface (after the second 

 ploughing), and cultivated and harrowed to thoroughly incor- 

 porate it with the soil to the depth the cultivator runs ; thia, 

 with the addition of the fertilisers hereafter mentioned, will, 

 with such careful culture as here recommended, produce the 

 best results. This application of manure should be made about 

 a week previous to transplanting. Lay ofi yonr rows with a 

 suitable marker, 3 feet 10 inches apart. Now with a co'vsrer. 



