THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



273 



Great attention is also paid to the roots, and every two or three 

 years they are carefully pruned, those extending farthest from the 

 main stem being shortened moderately ; and a trench is opened out 

 round the tree, in advance of the roots, and filled in with a compost 

 consisting of about equal parts of soot and manure, and into this the 

 roots soon push. The trees are also mulched, partly decayed stable 

 manure being usually employed ; and they are also liberally supplied 

 with water, both at the roots and overhead ; and need it be said no 

 caterpillar is allowed to obtain a footing upon the leaves. The fruit 

 is also thinned severely ; not more than two or three are allowed to 

 each shoot, and additional assistance is afforded the fruits by placing 

 saucers of water underneath them. By this means fruit of an 

 enormous size is obtained ; but as they are grown to be admired 

 rather than to be eaten, it matters not that the quality is indifferent. 



The most popular of the Lancashire or show gooseberries are as 

 under ; and as indicative of the size they attain under the system of 

 culture briefly sketched out in the foregoing remarks, I have 

 appended the heaviest weight on record of each. Those marked R. 

 have red, W. white, T. yellow, and Gr. green skins. 



Antagonist, "W., 34 dwt. 21 gr. 

 Beaut I/, E., 31 dwt. 6 gr. 

 Careless, "W., 31 dwt. 19 gr. 

 Gatlierina, Y., 32 dwt. 8 gr. 

 Clayton, R., 32 dwt. 8 gr. 

 Conquering Sero,R., oldwt. 11 gr. 

 Dan's Mistake, E., 31 dwt. 

 Drill, G., 32 dwt. 

 Fearless, Gr., 27 dwt. 10 gr. 

 Great Western, T., 26 dwt. 3 gr. 

 Green Overall, Gr., 27 dwt. 6 gr. 



Sigh Sheriff, Y., 28 dwt. 2 gr. 

 Leader, T., 28 dwt. 14 gr. 

 Leveller, T., 30 dwt. 11 gr. 

 London, E., 37 dwt. 7 ^t. 

 Mount Pleasant, T., 31 dwt. 4 

 Overseer, W., 29 dwt. 12 gr. 

 Ploughhoy, R., 30 dwt. 21 gr. 

 Shiner, G., 31 dwt. 19 gr. 

 Stochwell, G., 30 dwt. 18 gr. 

 Thumper, G., 30 dwt. 9 gr. 

 Wonderful, R., 33 dwt. 



GRAND DISPLAY OF HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 



BY A TOWN AMATEUR. 



OWE you no end of thanks for the joys you have enabled 

 me to snatch from a little garden that is often dimmed 

 by the smoke of London. Above all things I am thankful 

 for the many wise advices given us in the Floral 

 World on the selection of beautiful hardy plants that 

 are cheap and lasting, and need no particular care at any season. I 

 have now hundreds of such good things, and all my purchases have 

 been made under the guidance of the valuable monthly to whicli I 

 send this very humble contribution. 



Reflecting lately on the trouble I used to incur to keep one of 

 my borders gay with bedding plants, I resolved to follow your 

 advice, and collect hardy flowers. When they began to swarm about 

 me — for 1 devoted the front borders of my kitchen garden to many 

 of them — I made a selection for the border referred to. The plants 

 that have proved the most showy are the common Crimson Paoiiy, 



September, 



