Janaarj 8, 1874. ] 



JOURNAL OP HOBTIOULXUBE AND COTTAGE GABDENHB. 



39 



"Jernsalem" (that is, Gira-sola or Sunflower) Artichokes; 

 tho last supplemented by our Ground-nut (Apios tuberosa) 

 would have been the lirst-developed esculent tubers, and would 

 ))robably have held their place in the first rank along with 

 Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes of later acquisition. 



Among the causes and circumstances which have given to 

 the fruits of temperate climates of the old world their pre- 

 eminence, opportunity is one. How many potential fruits of 

 value lie undeveloped in this country we know not, and more, 

 shall never know. They have lost their opportunity. Neces- 

 sity, which is the mother of pomology as well as of other 

 invention, has been fully supplied out of other accessible, and 

 in some cases, no doubt, originally better materials. 



There are some, however, for which evidently " a good time 

 is coming." Of these, our wild Grapes are foremost. They 

 have such a start already, and seedlings, whether from crosses 

 or otherwise, can be produced and selected and reproduced in 

 so short a space of time, that they will probably have achieved 

 their position when the American Pomological Society holds 

 its centennial celebration. 



Blackberries, from Eubus villosus, are in similar case ; and 

 if due attention be paid to the Low Blackberry or Dewberry, 

 and to the Sand Blackberry of New Jersey and farther south, 

 the foundation for a greater diversity of excellent sorts will 

 be laid. 



As to Cranberries, already an important staple, increase of 

 size and abundance of production are all that are to be ex- 

 pected. It is easier to bring about improvements in tho direc- 

 tion of sweetness than in that of acidity. Huckleberries, also, 

 have probably nearly reached their perfection unassisted. 



A few wild fruits may be mentioned which manifestly have 

 great capabilities, that may or may not be developed in the 

 future. The leading instances in my mind are the Persimmon 

 and the Papaw — not the true Papaw, of course, which we have 

 in Florida, but the Asimina or Western Papaw, so-called. 

 Both Persimmons and Papaws are freely offering from spon- 

 taneous seedlings incipient choicer varieties to be selected 

 from ; both fruit when only a few years old, thereby accelerat- 

 ing the fixation of selected varieties into races ; and both give 

 fruits of types wholly distinct from any others we possess of 

 temperate climates. He that has not tasted a Kaki has no con- 

 ception of the capabilities of the Diospyros genus. The Custard 

 Apples of the West Indies give some idea of what might be 

 made of our Papaw when ameliorated by cultivation and close 

 selection from several generations. I have understood that 

 one of the veteran pomologists of the country. Dr. ICirtland, 

 of Ohio, a good while ago initiated a course of experiments 

 upon the Papaw, in this regard ; it would be well to know with 

 what success, and whether the breeding and selection have 

 been continued through successive generations. 



Our American Plums, already mentioned, have for many 

 years been in some sort of cultivation, and have improved 

 upon the wild forms ; but I suppose they have not been sys- 

 tematically attended to. Their exterior liability to black-knot 

 and other attacks renders them for the present unsuccessful. 



Finally, if pomology includes nuts, there is a promising field 

 uncultivated. Our wild Chestnuts are sweeter than those of 

 the old world ; it would be well to try whether races might not 

 be developed with the nuts as large as Marrons or Spanish 

 Chestnuts, and without diminution of flavour. If we were not 

 too easily satisfied with a mere choice among spontaneous 

 Hickory-nuts, we might have much better and thinner-shelled 

 ones. Varying as they do excessively in the thickness of the 

 shell and in tho size and flavour of the kernel, they are invit- 

 iug your attention, and promising to reward your care. The 

 Peccan is waiting to have the bitter matter between the shell 

 and the kernel bred out ; the Butter-nuts and Black Walnuts 

 to have their excess of oil turned into farinaceous and sugary 

 matter, and their shells thinned and smoothed by continued 

 good breeding ; when they will much surpass the European 

 Walnut. 



All this requires time, almost unlimited time ; but it ia not 

 for those who are enjoying the fruits which it has taken thou- 

 sands of years to perfect, to refrain from the good work which 

 is to increase the enjoyments of far future generations. — 

 {Horticulturist.) 



DOINGS OF THE LAST AND PEE SENT WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



PkUninq Gooseberry and Currant bushes, also looking over 

 fruit trees to thin-out branches where crowded. Digging and 

 trenching kitchen-garden quarters. Where the division lines 



consist of any description of fruit trees, the pruning should 

 always be done before the ground is dug or trenched ; it is also 

 desirable to loosen the surface soil under the bushes or trees to 

 the depth of 3 inches, and to throw it out into the middle of the 

 quarter, and this for a twofold reason : First, the larvie of insects 

 are to be found in the surface soil, and if they are buried at the 

 bottom of the trenches will be destroyed; and in the second 

 place, the new soil which is taken from the open ground to 

 replace that which has been removed will act as a stimulant to 

 the trees. When Gooseberry bushes are infested with cater- 

 pillars, removing the old soil in this way any time during the 

 winter and replacing it with fresh is an effectual remedy. The 

 old soil ought always to be placed on the surface of ground which 

 has to be trenched, as in digging much of the top soil is still left 

 near the surface. In all operations of digging and trenching it 

 is well to study neatness. The ground, if at all uneven, should 

 be levelled, and the surrounding alleys which may contain weeds 

 have the surface scraped off with a spade ; and before digging 

 out the trench a line should be tightly stretched along the side 

 and the ground marked off ; and on finishing the work a line 

 should be again used and a neat edging made. 



In gardens where there are plenty of frames, hand-lights, and 

 other glass appliances, it is easy to obtain early crops of the 

 smaller vegetables and salads, but where the glass is restricted, 

 Early Horn Carrots, Badishes, and Paris White Cos Lettuce 

 may be sown on sheltered borders facing south ; the soil being 

 dry and the weather fine, it may be done at once. For all small 

 seeds that are sown early it is very desirable to place about 

 2 inches of fine dry soil over the surface and to sow the seeds 

 in it. Where there is much potting done there will always be 

 a supply of fine soil from the pottiug-shed. This ought not to 

 be wheeled-out and wasted, as is sometimes done, but stored in 

 a dry place, so that it may be always at hand to be used as in- 

 dicated above. The early-sown Peas must be watched, as the 

 long-tailed field mice are very partial to them, and will do 

 much damage if not trapped by the usual methods. 



FKUIT AND FORCING HOUSES. 



Our Vines in the early houses are slow in breaking this year. 

 The borders have been well supplied with tepid water, that on 

 the outside being protected with wooden shutters as well as fer- 

 menting material underneath the shutters. The heat, whether 

 the covering is composed of stable manure or a mixture of that 

 and leaves, declines in four or five weeks, when it may be re- 

 moved by turning the heap over and mixing some fresh ma- 

 terial with it. Advantage should be taken of this to water the 

 border, the water to be of a temperature of 80° or 90'. Cold 

 water may be taken from a river or pond if rain water is not to 

 be had, and raised to the required temperature by adding hot 

 water from a copper as the watering proceeds. Water should 

 not be allowed to stand in the copper and be used afterwards ; 

 such water is occasionally injurious to the roots of plants. 



We have not yet cut the Grapes in the late vineries, but for 

 the last three or four years all the bunches were cut between 

 Christmas and New Year's-day, the stalks inserted in bottles of 

 water, which were hung-up in an airy fruit-room. Lidy Downe's, 

 Gros Guillaume, and Muscat of Alexandria will be all the sorts 

 that remain for this purpose. This year Royal Vineyard and 

 Mrs. Pince's Black Muscat are quite spoiled with mould. The 

 season which has just passed has been a bad one for keeping 

 Grapes ; and fuel being so dear, the heatiug apparatus was uot 

 used when it ought to have been — at the time the Grapes were 

 colouring, so that the fruit is not well ripened. The more sugar 

 the fruit contains the firmer will be the flesh, and the better will 

 the fruit keep. 



Successive batches of Strawberry plants iu pots are making 

 healthy progress ; the earliest (Black Prince) are setting their 

 fruit in a dryish atmosphere and a night temperature of from 

 60° to 65°. The pots are on a shelf very near (he hot water 

 pipes, and at this stage of their growth none of the plants must 

 be allowed to suffer from want of water. Many growers recom- 

 mend saucers of water under the pots. We tried this once, and 

 will not do so again, the result not being satisfactory. About 

 four years ago, finding the hot-water pipes under the pots acted 

 upon them injuriously, and those pots at the hottest end suffered 

 most, boards were laid over the pipes to prevent the heat from 

 ascending directly to the pots ; this was a great improvement to 

 the health of the plants. 



Clumps of Mint and Tarragon should be potted-up and placed 

 in any of the forcing houses. The carJy Potatoes, spread out 

 thinly in a dry loft, have sprouted nearly an inch. Those who 

 force their first crop in frames or pits should have their plants 

 set out; if not yet done, no time should be lost. We prefer 

 heated pits to frames for them ; but if pits are not available, a 

 bed of leaves and manure should be raised, with 6 inches of 

 loam on the top, and the sets must not be put in until the 

 bottom heat declines to 85° or 90°. When pits are used for this 

 crop with artificial heat from hot- water pipes, the plants should 

 be near the glass, and air should be freely admitted when the 

 plants are above ground ; they are also liable to the attacks o£ 

 the aphis tribe, which should be destroyed by fumigation. 



