Febraary 11, 1875. ] 



JOUBNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



121 



oesa of heading-down, irrespective of removal and change of 

 soil, teaoh a lesson of some importance. 



It ia certain that numerous instances exist of weakly, stub- 

 born, old Vines, but which, however, cannot be transferred to 

 a new site and fresh soil. In such a case much good may 

 accrue by cutting-down alone, when, as in the case in question, 

 the old stock will push-up fresh fine canes. Every alternate 

 Vine so cut down, and heavy border-dressings of rich manure, 

 and with occasional soakings of guano water at the rate of 

 1 to 2 0Z9. per gallon, would very soon work a decided im- 

 provement in many Vines which are apparently worn out. 

 How many examples are there in the country in which, when 

 old Vines have been uprooted, one solitary individual has been 

 left, just for "old acquaintance sake," and this old friend has 

 for years yielded as good, often better, than any Vine in the 

 house ! This old remnant, however, like Mr. Blackburn's, 

 had the benefit of fresh soil. This should always be afforded 

 if at all possible ; it is only where it is impossible that the 

 cutting-down alone is recommended as a means to procure 

 Grapes on Vines previously barren. 



Proceeding to Mr. Blackburn's request as to the formation of 

 a beau ideal border, my reply is, I have no idealistic standard 

 to set up to be worked by in all places and under varying cir- 

 cumstances. Any inflexible recipe, however good it might be 

 in itself, would be calculated to mislead. A thorough know- 

 ledge of local circumstances, such as nature of soil, its re- 

 tentivenesa of moisture or otherwise ; subsoil, its relative per- 

 colative power ; natural district drainage and rainfall ; — these 

 are important incidences of which it ia necessary to have a 

 thorough knowledge, and there would be then no guessworl: 

 in border-formation. But Mr. Blackburn has a good border, 

 at least that is what his Grapes say, and how simple it is ! yet 

 if I may venture a remark, it ia not the border in itself that 

 has such a Grape-producing power, but that it is pre-eminently 

 the management of it in which lies the secret of success. 

 Such a border of 18 inches deep only, and this rather light 

 loam with no intermixture, must be managed — it must have 

 attention, or in a very few years, unless the surrounding soil 

 ia naturally adapted to Vine wants, the Grapea would lack 

 both size and quality. The top-dressings must be continued 

 and an occasional change of food given. There must be loam 

 additions, or a mass of humus will be created, which alone 

 will fail to do the required work. Next autumn, if he dare do 

 so, let him carefully point-off 2 inches of the surface if that 

 can be done without the slightest root-injury — not without, 

 and replace with 3 inches of sound loam (not light fibry stuff, 

 as the manure will keep the bulk light enough), with 2 cwt. of 

 inch bones per cartload of loam. Let this dressing alternate 

 with the manure-coverings, and then with intelligent top- 

 treatment no one can say how long the Vines will continue in 

 vigour. 



Large bunches and large berries by no means go together, 

 as Mr. Blackburn supposes. Quite as often just the reverse is 

 the case, and a pound or two-pound bunch with fine and per- 

 fectly finished berries, such as our friend has produced, are 

 far more satisfactory to the consumer and creditable to the 

 producer than larger bunches with, berries destitute of colour, 

 size, and bloom. Mr. Blackburn is on the royal road to large 

 berries ; he has only to crop lightly, thin freely, and it his 

 border is perfectly drained or subsoil porous, water with liquid 

 manure after stoning ; keep the foUage thin, clean, and healthy ; 

 keep insects down by a genial atmosphere impregnated with 

 ammonia from guano sprinkUngs, and then large berries will 

 follow. 



These jottings, it is believed, will be more really serviceable 

 than a mere tabulated composition for any ideal border, which, 

 by the way, I think I did not promise to supply ; but I will 

 now promise what is better — viz., at a convenient opportunity 

 draw attention to some of the largest Grapes that have ever 

 been grown, stating the governing conditions, and I venture 

 to predict a surprise to somebody. — J. Wbight. 



VARIEGATED KALES FOR DECORATION. 

 In writing of these I do not pretend to have anything new to 

 say, but rather to call attention to them as useful aids in the 

 winter, when flowers, especially in small or medium-sized 

 gardens, are scarce. This being the time when the majority of 

 people who have gardens order their vegetable seeds, a little of 

 the Variegated Kale seed could be ordered at the same time, as 

 most respectable nurserymen keep good strains. The purpose 

 for which they are here used is for the decoration of the dinner 



table, which purpose they answer capitally, the colours show- 

 ing much better by artificial light than during the day, vary- 

 ing as they do from white to deep crimson. These, with a 

 very few flowers added, such as Chrysanthemums, &o., sprays 

 of Solanum Capsicastrum with two or three berries on each 

 spray, form a lively contrast to the White Kale, with a few 

 fronds of Adiantum cuneatum or other airy-looking Ferns 

 over them ; also a few dried Grasses might be mixed among 

 them. Stands made of these materials were much admired 

 here during the past winter. 



I will add that the Variegated Kale ia a very good vegetable 

 cooked in the usual way. — G. H. Cooke, TIw Gardens, Peniarth, 

 Toji-yn, N.W. 



OUR A.JUGAS. 



All flowering plants are interesting in their season ; among 

 these we have the family of Ajuga, not a very numerous one, 

 but none the less interesting. I think no admirer of our beau- 

 tiful flowers can pass through our meadows during the early 

 summer months without noticing the common Bugle, aa it is 

 called, with ita lovely spike of blue flowers peering through 

 the short grass. Ajugas grow well in most situations and in 

 almost any soil. The Ajuga reptans section succeeds best in 

 a good sound loam, and will bear almost any amount of 

 moisture. 



There are a few kinds that I would direct attention to as 

 worthy of more extensive cultivation than they are at present 

 receiving. Ajuga reptans alba is of diminutive habit, but ia 

 worthy of a place in the herbaceous border or the foot of the 

 rockery, its pretty white flowers lasting for a length of time. 

 Ajuga reptans variegata, white and green, is very attractive, 

 useful where dwarf plants are in request for edging in the 

 spring garden or border. Ajuga orientalie — or, if I mistake 

 not, in some lists atropurpurea — ia a very valuable and useful 

 plant for edging purposes, its leaves being of a deep bronzy- 

 purple colour, retaining their colour under all circumstances. 

 It is very effective, and most desirable for those of limited 

 means, for bedding purposea, and it is of very free habit. 

 Ajuga genevensis is a plant of compact habit, has no creeping 

 shoots ; its flowers are of the deepest blue. It is a very 

 desirable plant for rock or border. Ajuga pyramidalis, one of 

 our native beauties, ought to be on all rockeries and borders 

 too. Ajuga rosea, said to be a variety of this, is desirable for 

 the sake of contrast of colour in the flowers. 



They are all easily increased by seed and division, and may 

 be propagated almost at all seasons. Ajuga rupestris is well 

 adapted for planting on the rockery. Some are imported from 

 other countries, but none are more desirable than our own 

 natives of this family. We have an annual variety called 

 Ajuga chammpitya, but it is not often met with ; it has yellow 

 flowers ; interesting chiefly as a botanical rarity. — Veritas. 



KNIGHT'S MONARCH PEAR— GOLDEN KNOB 

 APPLE. 



Before the planting season closes I should like to call tho 

 attention of your readers to Knight's Monarch Pear. It is a 

 variety which ought to be in every collection. The flavour is 

 excellent ; it is a good bearer, and remains longer in season 

 than any other variety. It began to ripen here on the 1st of 

 November, and was good for ten weeks. I do not mean to 

 say that the Pears were all ripe then, but one could always 

 have a dish from the shelf. What I wish to state is that 

 they do not ripen all at once like other varieties, and I found 

 it the latest kind here, except Prince Albert, which with me 

 is only fit for stewing. Knight's Monarch ripens well as a 

 standard in favourable localities. 



I will also mention a first-class late dessert Apple called 

 Golden Knob, a good bearer, tree very hardy, and fruit an 

 excellent flavour, coming into season now when fruit of all 

 kinds ia scarce. As a kitchen variety of Apple for late use I 

 recommend Dumelow's Seedling ; this is a great favourite here, 

 and is capital for all culinary purposes after Christmas. — 

 .1. Rust, Tinibridrje Wells. 



THE SWEET CHESTNUT (CASTANEA VESCA). 



It seems certain that the most ancient of Greek naturalists 



described this tree under the name of " Dios Balanos," or 



Jove's Acorn Tree. In our authorised translation of the Old 



Testament it is mentioned thrice ; but in the original Hebrew 



