182 



JODBNAL OF HOKTIODLTDEB AND OOTTAQE GARDENES. 



[ Aus'JSt 27, 1371. 



life, for not only were the roots upheaved on one side, but they 

 were partially or wholly broken at the other. It managed to 

 blossom and to put forth its leaves, sufficiently so for the con- 

 version of almost every bud into a fruitful state, for the year 

 following, or second after the natural lifting, it bore an immense 

 number of fruit, very small indeed, even for Crabs. No growth 

 ■of note was made in either of those years ; but along the cen- 

 tral branches (which were, from the throwing-over of the tree, 

 horizontally placed), some knobs or excrescences appeared, 

 and from some of them a small shoot was noticeable. In the 

 season following, from those knobs issued shoots which in 

 three seasons have made 'J to 12 feet of perpendicular height, 

 some almost at their base as thick as my wrist, and though so 

 strong they are not unfruitful — in fact, large fine Crabs are 

 produced. 



This Crab tree is an example of the whole of ruy observa- 

 tion and experience in root-pruning and lifting Apples on this 

 stock, and all fruit trees on the free stock. ISringing the 

 branches into a horizontal position causes the upright sappy 

 shoots, which are such a plague in all cultivated trees on walls, 

 trellises, etc. Their removal answers only to confine them to 

 a given space ; it does not hasten, but renders more distant 

 the bearing, convincing me that trees on the free stock are 

 not for small gardens where they cannot attain their full 

 proportions. The very act of restraining them, though in- 

 ducing temporary fertility, renders them more barren, and 

 instead of causing spurs to be formed, young strong growths 

 are made, and the tree, on being root-pruned, appears as if 

 resuscitated; fresh roots and new shoots being formed, which 

 monopolise the sap, the old becoming enfeebled, decaying 

 slowly but surely, and fruit shows itself, not on the old, but 

 on the new parts. — G. Abbey. 



THE ROSE ELECTION. 



Time draws on for the calling-in of the voting papers. I 

 should wish to get the returns printed if possible in the last 

 week of September. As there is a large amount of labour in 

 the summing-up, I shall be glad to have the returns from all 

 intending voters as soon as possible. I propose to keep the 

 poll open till Saturday the 5th of September, but I shall be 

 grateful to have the returns as soon as possible. Often they 

 are informal, and necessitate my replying, which delays the 

 whole. 



The question I again give : Name what you consider the 

 best fifty Koses in cultivation (this, of course, includes any 

 Hose in commerce of whatever kind), and underline the best 

 twenty of these fifty. — Joseph Hixtox, Warminster. 



BEDDING GERANIUMS. 

 Db. Denny and myself are anxious to get up some good 

 prizes open to everyone for bedding Geraniums, subject only 

 to the condition that the raiser's name be attached to each 

 plant. Will any of my friends assist us ? Any contributions 

 to this object will be gladly received by me, and the names wiU 

 be published in the papers. We are each prepared to give five 

 guineas, and any assistance will be welcome. Our object is to 

 gather together all the best varieties in the country, so that 

 all may have an opportunity of seeing which are the best 

 worth cultivation. — J. E. Pearson, Cliilwdl. 



I HOPE some one will do as " C. S. B." suggests, and con- 

 tribute some fuller notes on bedding Ger.iniums, stating at 

 the same time the soil and treatment under which they suc- 

 ceeded. When Geraniums are not bedded-out, as in many 

 parts of the London parks, till the third week in June, they 

 are not likely to make any growth so as to come into bloom 

 till nearly the end of August. This I can testify, that by the 

 llth of June many beds of Geraniums, especially in the Green 

 Park, were not planted ; and even at the Crystal Palace, when 

 I was at the Bose Show on the 20th of June, there were plenty 

 of empty beds to be found. What chance had Geraniums, 

 especially newer sorts propagated in spring, to succeed when a 

 dry cold June was followed by a hot dry July? Young plants 

 never got any hold of the ground in many cases till rain fell 

 after the 27th of July, and plants must grow before they 

 can flower. I am glad " C. S. B." speaks out about Vesuvius. 

 I grew it one season longer than I otherwise should because it 

 was so much cracked-up, but nothing would induce me to 

 make another bed of it. Though Pink Queen is a shy bloomer 

 till the plants get established, yet it is in very fine blcooi 



here. Several kinds besides Vesuvius are apt to shed their 

 petals with hot dry sun or wind, notably Darius and Jeau 

 Sisley. 



I fear none of the true Gold and Bronze section of Gera- 

 niums will be as strong as Beauty of Calderdale, Her Majesty, 

 Kentish Hero. The very absence of chlorophyll (the green 

 colouring matter of the leaves) will prevent this. Still Imp6- 

 ratrice Eugouie, Crowa Prince, Pisine Victoria, Earl Bosslyn, 

 and my namesake, Rav. C. P. Peach (which last seems the 

 strongest-growing of all the true Gold and Bronze section), 

 will always repay extra trouble. Mrs. Lowe, Amaranth, Violet 

 Hill, Charley Casbon are both growing and blooming well here, 

 but then they were planted out before the end of May, and 

 were good plants when put out. 



I despair of getting either a good white of the Madame 

 Vaueher type, or a good one of the Francois Desbois style. 

 Gloire de Oorbenay was the best I ever had. 



Many Geraniums, as well as double Marie Lemoine, would 

 be better planted out as old plants, for other plants besides 

 doubles do but little good till July is nearly over. Of strong 

 growers, Col. Holdeu and Dr. Tait would suit many. Chief 

 Justice was far too strong here, and had to be discarded. I 

 hope others may record their opinions. — C. P. Peach. 



LITTLE HEATH MELON. 



I CAN bear testimony to the great merit of Monro's Little 

 Heath Melon. In four lights of an ordinary brick pit I had 

 fourteen good fruit, the largest weighing 5 lbs. They had no 

 bottom or top heat other than sun heat, as the pit was filled 

 with leaves only early in January for Potatoes, the Melons 

 being planted after the Potatoes were taken up. The flavour, 

 however, is not first-rate, although better than that of many 

 varieties I have grown. 



I may add that Gilbert's Victory of Bath has proved very 

 good with me this year. It is very early and of good flavour, 

 also an excellent bearer ; I cut fifteen of fair size — -from 2 to 

 3 lbs. each — out of two lights. — T. Prossek, Gardener, Bridge 

 Hill House, Canterbury. 



Undoubtedly the Little Heath Melon is the best for ama- 

 teurs to grow, and for flavour it ranks with first-class Melons. 

 It requires no heat, so that the trouble of a hotbed as for less 

 hardy sorts is dispensed with. All that is required is to raise 

 plants, say two in a CO-pot, and when a cold frame is at hberty 

 throw in a mixture of rather strong turfy soil three parts, and 

 one part thoroughly rotted manure, to the depth of a foot. 

 Level it, but leave a small hUl in the centre of each light, in 

 which plant. If the lights are large put two plants in a hill ; 

 if small, one. When the plant is in free growth give air on 

 every favourable occasion, so as to secure short-jointed wood, 

 and keep the atmosphere rather dry while the fruit is setting. 

 By no means allow more than five fruit on one plant, for this 

 number is all the plant can well carry. Trim and train the 

 shoots regularly, keeping the main shoots thin, so as to allow 

 space for the laterals on which the fruit will be produced. The 

 soil should be made rather firm, which will tend to prevent 

 over-luxuriant growth, and water should not be given too 

 freely. Great care must be exercised to maintain a sweet 

 healthy atmosphere and to guard against red spider. Dryness 

 at the root and also in the atmosphere when the fruit is ripen- 

 ing will tend to improve the flavour. If " G. C." (see page 104), 

 adopt this plan he will meet with the same success at much 

 less expense and trouble, for this Melon does not require 

 heat. — J. H., Bichley, Kent. 



STAG'S-HEAD FEEN. 



In reply to " F. P.," No. 691), page 1G5, 1 beg to enclose you 

 three specimens of fronds taken from three plants in my 

 possession. One is plain, the other two forked. In this part 

 of the country they are commonly called Stag's-head or Stag's- 

 horn Ferns. Botanically this is a misnomer, as the fronds 

 bear no resemblance to the proper stag-horn (a specimen of a 

 plant of mine I also enclose). The botanic.il name of the 

 Ferns to which I referred in my first communication is Scolo- 

 pendrium, Hart's-tongue. The two forked specimens enclosed 

 may be classed as crispum (curl-leaved), or multifldum (many- 

 cleft), and the plain-fronded one as Scolopendrium vulgare. 

 Some seven years ago I gathered the roots from oft' a moor 

 near Ulverston, called Birkrigg. When I first had the forked 

 kind, one frond only was forked, and that with a single fork. 



