February 17, 1876. 1 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



137 



Btate withont exhibiting signs of enfeeblement and of canker, 

 it is incunabent on me to offer snch suggestions as appear 

 warranted by experience for the prevention of its recnrronce. 



First, the stoclis are grown in deeply trenched and highly 

 manured soil ; they are strong when headed for grafting, 

 the scions are thus literally gorged with sap, and on them is 

 expended the full power of the roots, and a very vigorous 

 growth of scion ensues. Now I want it to be understood that 

 the growth is so soft from the imperfect elaboration of the sap, 

 and the greater part of it is unripe, if indeed the ripe part be 

 not confined to the scion as inserted. The tree is a maiden ; 

 and if it is planted out it may be cut down to induce side 

 shoots. In two or three years it is a bearing tree (I am allud- 

 ing to pyramids), and it is sent out, planted in rich soil, and 

 comes early into bearing. It has been over-excited and then 

 starved into bearing, again forced into growth from a rich soil 

 or high feeding, and nature rebels. Its conduits are closed or 

 partially, the large channels not having in the second or third 

 year so much nutriment passing through them as in the first, 

 from the loss of roots consequent upon removal. Such irra- 

 tional treatment results in early maturity, oftener a conse- 

 quence of debility than of health, and causing enfeebled pro- 

 geny and early decay. 



Second, scions taken from trees in a bearing state and in- 

 serted in very vigorous cut-down stocks, will have a supply of 

 sap ill proportioned to their means of conveyance, and from 

 weakness will of necessity be driven to the extreme of groas- 

 ness. The foundation is thus laid of the future tree receiving 

 ill supplies of sap, and becomes yearly less vigorous and more 

 unhealthful, and succumbs slowly but surely to disease. 



Third, employing soft unripe scions, which becoming dried 

 by severance from the parent must have the vascular system 

 contracted and disorganised ; and though the supply of sap 

 may pass this disorganised tissue in sufficient quantity to 

 meet the requirements of the tree in a young state, it does not 

 follow that it can transmit nutriment equal to the require- 

 ments of an extended fruitful tree. 



What hope is there of a tree in the pitiful state of the Haw- 

 thornden ? One only, and it is that it may, instead of giving 

 strong shoots from the stock, put out one from the original 

 scion, of which it shows no evidence at present ; but the shoots 

 on the stock are put out very near the junction, and I am 

 sanguine enough to trust that the scion will eventually 

 emanate a shoot imbued with health and vigour. I am 

 prompted to this conclusion from having a very badly cankered 

 Mi're de Menage, cut off by canker to within a few inches of 

 the junction, from which part issued a vigorous shoot, and 

 this shoot is now a fine healthy pyramid in a bearing state, the 

 fruit being finer than its neighbour which has had no canker 

 but has grown vigorously and profitably from the first. Analogy 

 further gives hope, for in cutting and pruning we originate 

 new parts of vigorous growth ; and when we have its accom- 

 paniment, ample foliage, we place far behind that debility which 

 induces to canker, and attain to that amplitude of foliage and 

 fertility ever presented by — Yoekshike Gkeening. 



STRATIFIED ROCKWOBK. 



As a writer in the Journal has questioned the propriety of 

 artificial rock being made to look like natural stratification, I 

 beg to state that where rocks are thus formed it is because it is 

 in localities where the nearest real rock is stratified, therefore 

 most consistent with Nature, which should be our guide, so as 

 to avoid what is so often termed rockerywork and cockneyfied, 

 which many gentlemen of taste have a horror of. It is the 

 close imitation of the strata, varied in thickness and tone of 

 colour, which is one of the charms of a rockery. 



In forming rocks on this principle it is easy and usuil to 

 provide such an abundance of soil and root room with drain- 

 age that the plants thrive so well, as in a few years the rocks 

 are not only well clothed, but often smothered up with foliage 

 it it be not cut now and then. This may be seen at many 

 places, Battersea Park for one. 



If, as " C. C. P." says, it is a mistake to try and imitate 

 cliffs and stratification, then all our leading landecapists are 

 wrong, as Mr. Broderick Thomas, Mr. E. Milner, Mr. Marnoek, 

 Mr. Kemp, and Mr. Gibson. They have all had it done, and 

 none of them had it done for the exclusive purpose of grow- 

 ing Ferns and Alpines, but to combine, with the foliage and 

 the rocks, a bold picturesque effect, at the same time so natural 

 as to surprise most people when told it is artificially formed. 

 If each stone forming the cliff or waterfall was not put 



on its natural bed it would, of course, be unnatural and 

 ridiculous. 



I could name many places where the cliffs do abound — on 

 their ledges, in the clefts and crannies — with plants so much 

 in many places that the rock is completely hidden. This is 

 especially so in the sandstone rock, though in most places 

 wherever a choice plant is within reach it is carried off and the 

 cliff made more bare. I grant that the plants thrive well 

 among the fallen rocks and diibris ; this may be done arti- 

 ficially, of course, and the stones may then be placed all 

 manner of ways. 



As to Mr. Ingram, or anyone else, maintaining that all stones 

 should be on their bed, and such having but one idea in con- 

 sequence, I maintain this one idea to be imperative in imitating 

 natural rocky cliffd. Allison, in his " Beauties of the Natural 

 World," says " the form of rock is most subUme." Sir Walter 

 Scott and Wordsworth were dehghted among the rocks, and 

 why ? because of the grand effects ; and though our imitations 

 are comparatively puny, yet, eo far as they go, will, as Sir 

 W. Scott says, " charm our fancies' wakening hour, and deem- 

 ing such nooks the sweetest shade the sun in all his round 

 surveyed." 



No such effects can be produced by simply scattering stones 

 and debris in the way " C. C. P." desires. There must be the 

 origin apparent, cliff or mother rock ; for if, as Allison says, 

 " rock is sublime," what shall be said of a rocky waterfall, a 

 dropping well, a meandering stream, a noble cave, all clothed 

 with fine verdure '.' 



It is all very well, pleasing and interesting, to grow the 

 pretty little Alpines or Ferns, and it is in the screens or debris 

 at the base of the cliff they will do well and will be seen best ; 

 but for the rugged and bold picturesque effect or grandeur we 

 must have the noble cliff, if only as high as our heads, so as 

 to have the beauty of the numerous plants, great and small, 

 that are available for growing on or about the rock so well in 

 view, as each plant cin have in well-arranged rock places suit- 

 able for every size, from the characteristic Yew or Holly down 

 to the smallest Alpine. — James Pclham. 



NOTES ON VILLA and SUBURBAN GARDENING. 



Planting Fruit Trees. — Although the season is advancing, 

 it is not yet too late for planting the different kinds of hardy 

 fruit trees. I do not think many would advocate spring in pre- 

 ference to autumn planting, but there are no doubt numerous 

 places where spring planting is unavoidable. At whatever time 

 the work is done, the operation requires the greatest care. 



Spring planting, and the subsequent treatment of the trees, in- 

 volves more trouble and anxiety than autumn planting, because 

 the trees have not the same time to make roots to support the 

 growth of the following season, and consequently a little more 

 coaxing in the way of watering and mulching will bo needed. 

 But however necessary spring planting may be, I always thick 

 it favours late growths, and then if the autumn is unfavourable 

 imperfectly matured buds and unripened wood is the result ; 

 nevertheless there ia much late planting done with good success. 



The trees selected should, if possible, be those that have been 

 previously prepared, more especially if they are large. The 

 roots are then in a closer compass, and consist largely of fibres 

 or feeding roots. There is less difficulty in removal, and less 

 liability to injure the roots in removing the soil from such trees 

 than in the case of others which have had no preparation. As 

 the work goes on let every root cut through be turued-up and 

 fastened to the ball of earth by a peg. This will keep them 

 clear from the spade. Take care that none of the trees are 

 planted too deeply, and that the stations for each are wide 

 enough for the full spreading-out of the roots. Prepare the 

 roots by pruning all those that may be bruised or broken. Next 

 proceed to thin some of them out if very thick, but leave all the 

 smaller roots, as these are the mainstay of the tree in its new 

 home. Lay out the roots carefully and regularly, and then bed 

 them in a little good soil prepared for them. I ought to say 

 that the bottom of the hole should be broken up, and, if needful, 

 have a little better soil added as an encouragement to the new 

 roots. Work the soil between the roots with the hand, and take 

 care that they all lie firm upon the soil. When this is done the 

 remainder may be put-in with the spade, and in treading it 

 down there is no danger of the roots being torn from the tree or 

 broken. 



The trees must to secured against wind !?.y staking them. 

 This must be done in a neat manner, taking care to place a 

 pad of hay, or straw, or matting between the stake and the tree 

 to prevent the bark being rubbed off. After this a watering 

 will do good if the state of the soil in which they have been 

 planted is well drained. The soil should be rather wet than 

 otherwise. After this cover the surface with rough manure or 



