428 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



also do well on walls if not too much encouraged with nitrogenous 

 manure, and this advice, indeed, applies to all forms. In the early 

 stages of growth stable manure should be strictly avoided, and potash 

 and phosphatic manure should only be given, with, of course, lime, if 

 this is not present in the soil, in fair quantity. The culture of this 

 fruit under glass is not undertaken so often as it should be. To 

 defeat spring frosts and, incidentally, the feathered tribes, this method 

 is very desirable, and for those who have not eaten " under glass " 

 fruit a revelation awaits them. As the cooking Plum is to the Green 

 Gage, so are outdoor Cherries to the indoor ones. 



The soft-fleshed Bigarreaus, so unfit for the untender mercies of 

 Covent Garden, only require to be better known to those whose idea 

 of a Cherry is the indigestible, if profitable, Napoleon ; and the black 

 varieties, such as the Tartarian or Circassian, are found in the highest 

 perfection under orchard-house culture. The varieties that can be 

 recommended for quality are, in the yellow, Bigarreaus, Frogmore, 

 Elton, and Governor Wood; in black varieties of this race, the 

 Tartarian above mentioned, Early Rivers, and Waterloo; and the 

 old St. Margaret's or Tradescant's Black Heart, a name which takes 

 us back to the Duke race, whose refreshing acid flavour is acceptable 

 to many palates, and are best represented by May Duke, Royal Duke, 

 and Archduke. 



The Morello Cherry needs no recommendation. Its preference 

 for a cool wall and its never-failing cropping qualities have won it a 

 place in all gardeners' hearts. It fruits on young wood of the previous 

 year's growth, and as much of this should be retained as possible. Of 

 similar flavour is the Kentish Red, a very distinct variety, which for 

 cooking is quite unequalled. Cherry jam made of this variety will be 

 the first sort to disappear from the pantry. Use half a pound of sugar 

 to i Ib. of fruit, and you have a preserve fit for the proverbial king. 

 To sum up, the secret of Cherry-growing is to forget the knife and 

 the manure-barrow, and remember the lime. 



Plums. While the exact identification of the "forbidden fruit" 

 remains a matter of speculation, I have no hesitation in designating 

 the Plum the " unappreciated fruit." The extended culture of the 

 commoner varieties for "market" purposes has perhaps to answer 

 for the lack of appreciation of this most delicious fruit; but I also 

 venture to think that a lack of care in gathering at the right season 

 and storing for a short interval are likewise partly responsible for 

 its neglect. 



The Plum has long been reproached with unfruitfulness ; but we 

 are now able, thanks to recent research at the John Innes Horticul- 

 tural Institution, to remedy one frequent cause of this first of deadly 

 sins. I allude to the fact that Plums are generally self-sterile ; that is, 

 pollen must be brought from another variety to ensure the perfect 

 setting of their fruit. This is a valuable piece of information to 

 gardeners and nurserymen. 



Another cause of infertility is the destruction of blossoms by spring 



