copy Dr. Thackeray’s example would first inform them- 
THE GARDENERS CHRONICLE. 
the Chronicle, nor do I think that many of the plants 
producing these were six feet in height, as T have seen 
most of them myself. I have cut a considerable quantity 
of Montserrats within the last two months, and many of 
them exceeded 6lbs. ; two exceeded 64lbs., and the majo- 
rity of them weighed from 5 to 6lbs. I have, at the 
present time, above twenty ripe and ripening. Some of 
these will fall short of 4lbs., but this is not to be found 
fault with at Christmas; the whole of the plants produc- 
ing fruit since October are from 18 to 22 months from 
the suckers ; of course the suckers were good strong ones, 
which ought always to be the case; all undersized ones I 
throw away. Now, instead of the plants being six feet 
high, the longest leaf of these did not exceed four feet ; 
but averaged about three and a-half feet, and were short 
and broad, and very stiff. Many of my neighbours can 
bear testimony to the correctness of these statements. I 
do not {find the Montserrat to be a particularly slow 
grower ; it certainly is no longer in perfecting its fruit 
than the Queen, but it is quite as easy to fruit, and with- 
out any check will grow quite as rapidly as it.—S. Barnes, 
Apley Park, Bridgenorth. 
Pine-apples.—In reply to a “ Practical Gardener” 
who requests that the collective weights of fruits each 
writer has cut within a given period of not less than 
three years should be given, I beg to state that if he will 
refer to p. 861, he will there find the collective weights of 
fruits cut during the last three years at Thornfield, to- 
gether with the dimensions of the retaining wall of the 
bark-beds in the fruiting-pits ; and I beg further to inform 
him that succession and nursing plants are all grown in 
one house under the Vines. The bark-bed in this 
house is 23 feet long and but 7 broad; and moreover no 
importation of plants has taken place here for ten years 
back; on the contrary, I have parted with 60 fruiting 
plants within the last sixteen months. I have entirely 
dispensed with succession plants in the culture of Pines, 
and my plants promise to do as well as ever they have 
done. With regard to expenses: about 12 tons of coals 
are consumed for fire-heat ; this costs about 5/., and one 
cart-load of bark is used for plunging the plants in; this 
costs about 8s., making in all 5/. 8s.; hot water is used 
for obtaining bottom-heat, of which a full description will 
be given in my forthcoming Treatise, with suggestions 
and improvements. I may state that my Cucumbers are 
also grown in the same pits.—Joseph Hamilton, Thorn- 
field, Stockport. 
Holly Stealing.—A Correspondent tells us that this 
offence increases annually with the size of the metropolis. 
Cart-loads of beautiful evergreens are to be seen enter- 
ing the principal thoroughfares in the middle of the night, 
and yet no notice is taken of the stolen property by the 
police. If a churchwarden or overseer loses his duck or 
his pig, the robbery is advertised and the thief generally 
punished; but if a gentleman’s grounds are damaged 
by his evergreens being mutilated and carried away, 
the thief is encouraged by the persons holding these | 
offices in the politi arishes purchasing the stolen 
property to perpetuate an old custom, besides ‘ throw- 
ing away the money which ought to be applied to 
the relief of the poor. Our correspondent tells us 
that even to the extent of 30 miles from London gen- 
tlemen are put to the annual expense of stripping their 
bushes of berries, besides the annoyance of lessening 
their beauty for the remainder of the season. All this 
might be obviated by a better understanding between 
the rural and metropolitan police. 
Pruning Forest Trees.—In a late Number, there is no 
fewer than three Correspondents taking me to task about 
pruning Forest Trees. In reply to “KE. A. C.,”” the first 
of these, I beg to repeat that my arguments hitherto, if they 
deserve the name, have all hinged on the mutual action 
and reaction (or if you please reciprocity) between root 
and branches, and that the production of timber of best 
quality in the shortest time is the object in view. I beg 
to inform ‘‘E. A. C.’’ his distinction between 
“ wood” and ‘‘ timber,” is more fanciful than real ; a tree 
will never make ‘‘timber’’ if it do not make ‘‘ wood,” 
but will make both faster without pruning than with it ; 
and as to the instance he adduces of Pollards, what he 
takes for granted is just the reverse of fact. There is now 
within a mile of where I write, an extensive common 
with hundreds of Pollard Oaks that have been beheaded 
a great many times—the last time upwards of 40 years 
since, as the practice has so long been prohibited. These 
have fine bushy, and many of them large heads, but yet 
there is scarcely one among them more than sufficient 
in size to square into a gate-post. Next comes 
a correspondent from the “Mountains of Wicklow,” 
who wishes to balance the account between me and 
“Pro Bono Publico”’ in regard to Dr. Thackeray’s 
lantations at Nerquis. Now I have said before, I quite 
lieve all that is reported of Dr. T.’s plantations, and 
am not aware that I should object much to the practice 
of {Dr. T.’s forester as described by a former corre- 
spondent in the Chronicle, but I opine that results are 
attributed to ‘‘ pruning’”’ in this case which more properly 
belong to other causes. ‘‘ Consule Planco” calls on me to 
go to Nerquis and see the result ; this I would gladly do 
were it convenient—indeed nothing would please me 
more. I beg to tell all the eulogists of the Nerquis, and 
all other systems of pruning, that in my younger days 
I had the management of plantations, which were pruned 
a la “Pontey,’’ and yet these plantations grew with great 
vigour. The soil was a strong marly red loam, and was 
trenched two spades deep, yet to attribute the vigour of 
these same plantations to the pruning, and place it in 
favour of “ Pontey’s” system would be at once an in- 
justice and an absurdity. If any who may be induced to 
selves of the true principles that accelerate the growth of 
timber in trees, I should have little fear of their counter- 
acting it by continuing an injurious system of muti- 
lation, vulgarly called pruning, beyond the period of 
youth. Much as I disapprove of ‘‘ Pontey’s’’ recom- 
mendations, many of his professed followers committed 
sad havoc in carrying them out in a mistaken manner, and 
practices which Dr. Thackeray himself would condemn 
might happen to ensue in attempting to imitate his 
system. Next comes Mr. Billington, and I am glad 
to find that our difference, if difference there be, is 
more about words than things; he says he finds 
“¢ Quercus’ still adheres to reciprocity between roots 
and branches :’? now nobody knows better than Mr. 
Billington that trees still adhere to this, whether 
“ Quercus’ do or not; and Mr. B. himself adheres to it 
also, for he subsequently observes—“ The system of train- 
ing forest-trees that I have found out and practised 
acre of young Oaks, from three to six feet high, in a very E 
neglected state as regards pruning, superfiuous branches 
existing inevery part. I proceeded to prune the said trees 
upon what I term scientific principles, viz. :—In the first 
place, to prune all branches that appear likely to contend — 
in size with the trunk of the tree ; and secondly, to prevent 
more than one leader, my chief object being to abstain — 
from pruning too hard in any one year or succession 0) 
years, as in that case I find the trees invariably produce — 
an infinite number of small spray from different parts 0 
its body; caused, I suppose, from the superabundance of sap q 
arising in consequence of a heedless deprivation of its 
branches. Working this rule I was visited by my 
employer, who, to my great surprise, told me he had — 
lately been to his estate in Sussex, when his agent then 
gave it as his opinion that I was decidedly wrong in my 
ications : 
ife—that the young tree — 
Pp pr I 
never recovered the shock, and should be allowed to 
stand 1 d, and take its chance as to whether it 
increases the number of branches on a tree, a y 
the increase of timber in the stem, and, I presume, the 
reciprocity between roots and branches.’ Now here we 
are as nearly agreed as need be. Although I am quite un- 
informed on Mr. B.’s system of training, I have a shrewd 
guess it is near akin to that described and practised by 
Dr. Thackeray’s forester—such as displacing a bud likely 
to make a wrong shoot, or removing a rival ina young state, 
or shortening in a limb likely to overshoot his proportions, 
&c. To all such operations I am decidedly friendly, 
therefore it is unfair to represent me as opposed to all care 
about woods and plantations, merely because I disapprove 
of systems of pruning by which their growth is retarded 
and their quality deteriorated. I beg to assure all my 
opponents that I wish every care to be taken of woods and 
plantations, to promote their growth and beauty; assured, 
as ‘‘Consule Planco” says, “‘ the subject is one of deep 
and permanent interest to the public.” Mr. Billington 
justly observes there is still a chaos of opinions on this 
subject; the very terms we use in writing about it may 
produce different ideas in different men’s minds, and 
therefore there is some little discretionary latitude to be 
allowed in the use of words and phrases—as there may be 
in the management of a young tree, according to the cir- 
cumstances in which it is placed, its kind, and con- 
comitant, ionship (S quently, every man who 
has the management of woods, &c., should possess know- 
ledge enough to act discreetly with varying subjects under 
ever-varying circumstances, but never to violate or coun- 
teract Nature. Let this answer Mr. B.’s interrogatory— 
“how young?” Finally, let me recommend all my critics 
and opponents to procure and study a pamphlet recently 
published on Arboriculture, read before a scientific 
society in the West Riding of Yorkshire, and noticed in the 
Chronicle, p. 696, by J. Hamerton, Esq., of Hellifield Peel, 
near Skipton. Mr. H. shows, among other things, what 
uacks some writers—who would be reckoned authorities 
et are with some) on Arboriculture are. All these 
serve to show with what wisdom the arboricultural world 
has been governed. May we all live to see better days 
and more efficient guides |—Quercus. 
Forest Trees.—'The cause of annual rings being unequal 
in different parts of the circumference of trees I shall 
endeavour to explain. A great deal has been written on 
the increase of timber by consolidation of the sap (cam- 
dium), and that the sap flows more freely on one side of a 
tree than on another—on the south side, for instance. But 
as Iam of a different opinion, I beg to state that, when 
trees are sawn across, it is frequently found that the part 
which was the original centre of the tree, when young, is 
out from the centre, from a quarter to three fourths nearer 
the outside on one side than on another. Why is this? 
It is not from consolidation of the sap, or from the different 
aspects, east, west, north, nor even south; but from the 
descending filaments or woody tissue from the annual leaf 
or leaf-buds. This has been fully confirmed from observ- 
ation and admeasurement of trees felled on purpose 
during this autumn. When trees stand so far apart that 
the branches are nearly of an equal size, and pretty regular 
on all sides of the stem, the concentric layers will be of an 
equal breadth, or nearly so, all round the circumference ; 
but when trees have been crowded on one, two, or three 
sides, and have lost their branches on those sides, the con- 
centric layers will be broadest on the sides that the branches 
are on. On the sides where there are no branches the 
annual layer will be very narrow indeed ; and this is the 
real cause of the inequality in the breadth of the annual 
layers on different sides of the tree. The same thing occurs 
when trees are much exposed to strong prevailing winds, 
and when the branches, in consequence, are forced to one 
side: from whatever quarter those winds may come, 
without any regard to aspect, the concentric layer of wood 
will be broadest on the side to which the branches are 
inclined. If the branches are strong, numerous, and 
healthy, the annual layers will be broader than if they were 
scanty and small; but the grain of the timber will be finer 
in proportion to the number, health, and smallness of 
these, and annual layers will be narrower than in more 
vigorous trees. The following two Larch trees, cut down 
and measured, will prove what I have stated :—The first 
was from the south side of a plantation, and the north side 
of the tree was clad with branches; from the centre to the 
circumference on that side) it measured 8% inches; the 
south side of the same tree, with few branches on that side, 
measured 3}in.; making a difference of 43 in. The second, 
from the north side of a plantation, having branches on the 
north and north-east sides of the tree, measured from the 
cetnre to the circumference, 43 inches; the south and south- 
west sides, with few branches, measured, from the centre 
to the circumference, 2} inches ; this, subtracted from the 
former, leavesa difference of 2 inches.— W. Billington. 
On Forest-Tree Pruning.—I have under my care an 
eventually became a tree worthy of being called the — 
Monarch of the Forest, or to grow like Gooseberry- 
bushes, useful only for the oven or the charcoal-burner+ 
This is the opinion of a practical man. 
it will oblige Quercus II. [We have given our own op 
nion on this subject in a leader this week. There is nO — 
objection to pruning skilfully performed; under some 
circumstances it is desirable, but it is too often abused.] 
Fuchsia Exoniensis.—Without any desire to depreciate — 
the value of this plant, I must persist in what I have 
stated respecting it. I spoke of it from the plant exhibited — 
at Chiswick, which I have aright to suppose was a fait — 
specimen of cultivation; and in that the branches were — 
irregular, the leaves curled, and the whole aspect spare and 
meagre. 
be desired, but like many long-sepalled varieties, they 40 
not expand freely, and are not liberally produced. Like 
formosa elegans, which I should suppose is one of its 
parents, it will occasionally be caught in fine condition 5 — 
but, as Dr. Lindley remarked of it when shown at the 
Horticultural Society’s Rooms in the summer, ‘it, like 
St. Clare, will require good management to have it alway’ 
in a fine state.”” A young Fuchsia that will grow from 
six inches to a foot high at this season, without exhibiting 
any disposition to produce lateral branches, will never 
come up to my standard of what a prize specimen ought 
td be. However, I have no prejudice in the matter. 
will give it a fair trial, and if it is deserving, will treat ib 
to a ride to Chiswick about the Exhibition time—W. Ps — 
Ayres. [We close this question with the present letter and 
the following observations. F. exoniensis has the finest 
flowers of any variety yet produced, taking them all in all. 
It is not fair to judge of it from the specimen shown ® 
Chiswick, which had evidently been forced, in order (0° 
get it ready. We attach no importance to what is called 
the habit of a Fuchsia—a clever gardener can always 
regulate that. If a variety grows too compactly, force it 
on ; if too loosely, stop it. Adapt the management to the 
habit, and do not expect the habit to adapt itself to your 
management. St. Clare, a variety with similar growth, ab! 
once the finest of its class, though now beaten, is only 
undervalued by those who cannot grow it.] 
Mildness of the Season.—As a proof of the mildness of 
the season in this district (county Northumberland, 
I send you the following list of flowers, gathered from 
the open borders of the garden on the 14th Decembe® 
1843:—China Roses, different sorts; other Roses 
Stenactis, QSnotheras, various kinds ; Wallflowel 
Stocks, German, &c. ; Pansies, Phloxes, different sorts + 
Ericas, Violets, Potentilla nepalensis, Escholtzia, Mary” 
golds, Sweet Peas, Gilia capitata, G. bicolor, Malva, 
sorts; Malope trifida, Chinese Chrysanthemums, Pyrus 
Japonica, Convolvulus minor, Spanish Nigella, Carne 
tions, Pinks, Iberis odorata, Aster, sorts ; Mignonett 
Branching Larkspur, Pentstemon coccineum, Verber 
nas, &c,— 8. L. t 
Bleeding of Grape Vines.—It has occurred to me ui 
the bleeding of the Vine, to which a corresponden, 
adverts, might be prevented by twisting severely the en 
of the Vine at the point to be separated, in the sam 
manner as surgeons act with arteries by what is calle 
torsion. Is it not worth the trial? Should the en¢ | 
answered, the dead portion might then be separated with 
out the fear of bleeding — IW. Rayner, Uwbridge. e 
‘cale on Pines.—Many applications have been recom 
mended for the destruction of scale on Pine plants. 
appears astonishing, when we consider what was know? 
to Mr. Knight and written by him upwards of 20 years 
since, that fermenting horse-dung, a most destructive at 
easily-applied agent, is only just beginning to be generally 
used for the purpose. Being desirous of ascertaining 
whether a substitute less troublesome and equally efficier 
conld not be found, and to what extent it could be applies 
without injury to vegetable growth, about two years ain 
subjected some seedling Orange trees much infected W) 
scale to the fumes arising from ammoniacal liquors Ga 
tained from the gas-works. The trees were kept close é 
a common-sized Cucumber-frame with glazed top; ie 
this was introduced a pan containing half-a-gallon of i, 
liquor, and in three days the insects were destroyed, oe 
the foliage of the plants presented a scorched and shrivel 
appearance. It is probable that the same result woe 
have been obtained in much less time by pouring © 
mon sal ammoniac upon quicklime. The subject 18 ye 
worth consideration, and I hope some one interest 
the inquiry will be induced to pursue the exper! 
further.— A Subscriber, Southampton. at 
Four Crops in a Year.—On the Cottagers’ tables ty 
the late exhibition of the Norwich Horticultural Socie’ 
were four plates of Potatoes, being samples of four oroph 
ment 
[DrEc. 23, — 
If any of your — 
readers will favour me with their opinions on this subject; 
The flowers in colour are everything that can — 
