502 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



[July 27, 



Home Correspondence. 



Summer Pruning In ihe case of the Gooseberry 



this is frequently neglected, but it is worthy of uttention 

 for several reason*. The first is, that by cutting off the 

 summer shoots a greater proportion of sap is directed to 

 the fruit. Where summer pruning is not performed 



foliage, which moreover retards the swelling and ripen- 

 ing of the fruit by shading it from the influence of sun 

 and air. Pruning ; s, on that account, necessary, in order 

 to have large, well-flavoured berries ; and it also, by 

 concentrating the sap, in a great measure aids ihe form- 

 ation of more fruit-buds for next year, and renders them 

 more vigorous and healthy. The shoot*, however, ought 

 not to be cut off too early, as this *ould perhaps cause 

 the tree to push new hhoots again instead of forming 

 fruit-buds ; neither would I prune to the base of the shoots, 

 as that would cause the buds at the bottom to push, and 

 perhaps convert some of those formed for fruit into wood 

 buds.' My plan is to begin about the end of June or 

 beginning of July (according to the earliness of the 

 season), and cut away all the suckers from the bottom of 

 the bush pretty closely. I then cut off the summer 

 wood along the main branches with pruning-shears, 

 which are speedier than a knife, cutting more or less off 

 the shoots, according to their strength— say about half 

 off a weak shoot, and one-third off a strong one, or 

 perhaps less, it being best to err on the safe side. In 

 some cases merely pinching off the points is sufficient, 

 for by taking too much off you may cause the shoot to 

 push anew. If after this pruning the bushes make more 

 new wood, they may be looked over and the young shoots 

 topped, but take cue nottotopthe leading shoot of amain 

 branch when the bush is young, and has not arrived at 

 its full size. Another reason in favour of sun. mer pruning 

 is, that it makes the bushes have a much neater appear- 

 ance ; it aUo leaves less shelter for the caterpillar and 

 other vermin. All the young shoots that are thus stopped 

 should be pruned back 10 one eye in the winter or spring 

 pruning. With regard to the summer pruning of 

 Apple and Prar trees the same remarks are applicable. 

 In pruning these it is common to cut the young shoots 

 close to the spurs, or to rub them off as they appear ; 

 but this is a practice of which I do not approve, for by 

 so doing more young wood is always encouraged, and 

 consequently fewer fruit-buils are formed. My method 

 of pruning wall or espalier Apple and Pe <r trees is this : — 

 I never rub off the wood-buds, but let them grow until 

 the month of June or July, when I go over the tree and 

 shorten the shoots according to their strength and vigour. 

 When young shoots appear after thac time, do not rub 

 them off until ihey are of considerable length, otherwise 

 they would push again, and carrying off t e sap, would 

 impair the vigour of the fruit-buds. Thus, by stopping 

 the summer wood in proper time,new fruit-buds nreformed, 

 and the others are more matured for the succeeding spring. 

 Some may object to the untidy appearance of the trees 

 on walls having part of the young wood sticking out, 

 and may say that it in a great measure deprives the 

 fruit of the full influence of the sun. But this is not the 

 case, as a moderate shading is not against fruit, and the 

 pr uiuctivenessof the trees will fully compensate for the un- 

 tidy appearance. If the above method was fully practised, 

 we would hear of fewer complaints about bad crops on 

 wall and espalier trees. — A. JV., Muiryfold Grange, 

 Banffshire. 



Canker in Fruit Trees.— In April, 1843. I worked 

 some grafts of the Ciofton Apple on a young stock ; they 

 went through the usual process remaikably well; and 

 when I removed the clay, &c. everything appeared in a 

 healthy state. On examining the stock during the 

 following spring, 184-1, I found it so extensively cankered 

 that 1 was obliged to cut almost through it, in order to 

 eradicate the decayed parts, leaving but a small portion 

 of the back. Fearful of losing my tree from the dryness 

 of the season, and hoping to induce the wounds to he tl, 

 I covered the stock up to the grafts (about 16 inches) 

 with rich soil. The result of my experiment has been 

 most satisfactory. The injured parts are forming new 

 bark round the edges, and the stock is throwing out 

 beautiful roots from the eye below the grafts. — Falcon. 



Pear-Pruning, by " Observer" — Before his well- 

 written observations are acted upon, one should like to 

 have Dr. Lindley's opinion upon his mode of pruning, 

 as well as that of the leading gardeners, through the 

 medium of the Chronicle. — July 13/A, 1844. 



Quick growth of the Pear. — I have in my garden two 

 grafts of the Gansel's Bergamot, and two of the Beurree 

 D'Aremberg (worked on a Windsor Pear stock in April, 

 1843), now covering; one hundred feet of wall. Is not 

 this rather an extraordinary instance of quick growth ? 

 — Falcon, [Very.] 



Pears. — The introduction of so many good kinds of 

 Pears of late is a very great acquisition. Some of them 

 not only surpass many of the old kindsin flavour, but also 

 in fruitiulness, even in situations where some of the old 

 sorts do not bear well. Witness, for instance, the fine fruit 

 of Napoleon or Marie-Louise, on a north-west wall, where 

 the Crassane and Brown Beurre are cracked and gritty. 

 The Marie-Louise succeeds better on a west or east aspect 

 than on a south one ; this is owing to its being retarded 

 in such situations until the weather becomes warmer ; it 

 blooms too soon when exposed to the south, and conse- 

 quently suffers from cold and frosty winds. Many of these 

 lately-introduced varieties keep much longer than the old 

 ones. When this is fully known, we need not be sur- 

 prised to see Pears take the place of Peaches and Nec- 

 tarines, which are difficult to keep, especially in late 

 seasons. Though the fruit of both are excellent, yet they 



are of short duration ; whilst a good collection ot Pears 

 will last during winter and spring when fruit is most 

 wanted. It is not unusual to see fine walls covered with 

 old barren Pear-trees, which might be rendered fruitful if 

 they were grafted with new kinds. I observe in aback 

 Number of the Chronicle an opinion by Mr. Hayward 



lBB11 . .-.,. , a - . . respecting ripe Pears. He says-- No Pears, ifgathered 



this is lost in the production ot useless spray and a nd eaten when fully ripe on the tree, are so »ood as 



* ' when gathered as soon as they have attained their full size, 



and had by in a dry place until they are ripe." This writer 

 surely cannot mean that Pears ought to be gathered imme- 

 diately when they attain their " full size:*' I consider it 

 is better to let them hang on the tree until they give 

 warning by dropping, or until their stalks pat t freely from 

 the tree; for, in my opinion, many of them, and especially 

 late kinds, are gathered too soon. At present (Nov. 7), I 

 have several kinds of Pears yet on the trees ; they seem 

 to be improved in quality. If Pears are gathered too early 

 they become tough and wizzened. — J. Wighton. 



Gooseberry Seeds. — This is the proper time to sow 

 Gooseberry seed. This season has been very favourable 

 for the finest and most delica'e sorts to ripen ; and I 

 would recommend those who wish to obtain improved 

 varieties to sow the seed io shallow seed-pans, placing 

 them in a cool frame ; the seed can be separated by mixing 

 fine sand with the pulp, and rubbing it out. This ope- 

 ration over, sow immediately, and keep moderately 

 moist the soil in the pans ; when the seedlings are up, 

 and have got four leaves, let them be exposed altogether 

 to the weather ; but I would advise their being kept in 

 the pans, and ayain placed in a cold pit, and finally 

 planted out in rows, 2 feet apart. In the spring they 

 will fruit the second year. — Anon. 



Gooseberry Caterpillar.— Among the many prescrip- 

 tions for getting rid of this troublesome pest, is one 

 which, for sim plicity and efficacy, cannot be made too well 

 known. It is this :— When the bushes are wet, either 

 after a shower or after having been watered with a gar- 

 den-engine or watering-pot, dust them over with a little 

 dry soot. The caterpillars desert them immediately 

 after the application, and the first shower cleans the 

 bushes of the soot.— D. F., JVoodhouselee. 



Pruning Forest Trees.— In a late Chronicle I observe 

 a remark, made by a writer signing himself " Quercus," 

 to the effect that, with reference to the growth of Oaks 

 and the pruning of them, " he never yet saw a mag- 

 nificent stem that had not a proportionately large head." 

 But I would beg to ask him whether he has not seen 

 many a magnificent head that had not a proportionate 

 stem \ I well know that I have, and that I have indeed 

 now some such in my view ; yet would I not on any 

 account have that disproportion in them altered, forming 

 as they do an ornamental feature in my grounds ; though 

 in respect to others growing in a coppice, where ornament 

 is not such an object, I would gladly exchange the brandl- 

 ing honours of their heads for the solid cubic contents of 

 a long stem, from which, when felled, the builder might 

 be able to cut his stout beam and girder, of 25 or 30 feet 

 in length. Every one, doubtless, loves to behold in the 

 rich domain a magnificent Oak, extending far and wide its 

 enormous branches, as if to protect the soil that had 

 nourished its increase, and enabled it to withstand the 

 storms of many centuries. Few objects in the creation 

 present a more imposing spectacle. But for useful pur- 

 poses, surely it were desirable to grow clean straight 

 timber ; and if the zealous planters of the present genera- 

 tion were but to plant Oak more largely (instead of the 

 Beech, and other trees of little use except for fuel), I can- 

 not but think it might again become sufficiently abundant 

 to be extensively used, as formerly, in our buildings, in 

 lieu of the perishable material now generally employed. 

 •But such timber can only be obtained by paying more 

 attention to young plantations than is usually bestowed 

 upon them : in the first place, with respect to thinning ; 

 and, secondly, by judiciously pruning the young trees. 

 By the neglect of the first operation, the Larch, and other 

 trees that should nurse the Oak in its infancy, will very 

 soon altogether destroy, or sadly weaken it ; and, for 

 want of pruning, numbers of the young trees will remain 

 stunted from want of nourishment (except, perhaps, in 

 very congenial soils), or distorted in their growth by the 

 irregular diffusion of the sap among the branches, and 

 the consequent want of a vigorous leading shoot. Having 

 had the experience of near forty years as a rather extensive 

 planter (during which I think I may say I have personally 

 given more attention to the subject, and especially to 

 pruning, than most gentlemen), I will venture boldly to 

 affirm, that increased vigour, stature, and bulk, will ever 

 be the sure result of the judicious pruning of the Oak, 

 whatever any theorists may advance to the contrary. — 

 JV. II. 



Action of Roots.— In illustration of the fact that plants 

 draw all their nourishment from the small roots at their 

 extremities, and are little, if at all, affected by having 

 the larger parts exposed to the weather, I have lately 

 had a convincing proof. In repairing a vinery, I was 

 desirous to have the front wall, which was originally of 

 solid brick-work, built on arches, for the benefit of some 

 of my best Vines. They are planted in the inside of the 

 house, but I have some on the outside likewise, which I 

 wished to retain until their places are supplied with 

 young ones. From these it was necessary that all the 

 soil should be removed ; and knowing that it was a stiff 

 adhesive clay, and that there would be iew small roots 

 close to the stem, I commenced at it and removed the 

 soil away for a distance of three yards. In that state 

 the roots lay exposed from the end of March to the be- 

 ginning of May ; nevertheless 1 find that the Vines have 

 broken as strong as usual, and show about the same 

 quantity of Grapes.— J. M. 



Plant Brokers. — If a new plant could be as readily 

 got as a new book, the trade would be benefited. Why 

 should not there be brokers, who would undertake to 

 execute an order for plants raised in the neighbourhood 

 of London, just as a wholesale bookseller in town 

 executes an order from the country, though it may be 

 for not a single book of which he is the professed 

 publisher ? The present system of the trade acts as a 

 check upon their own profit, no less than the grievous 



charges made by carriers for parcels of small weight. 



Richard Tongue. 



Acclimatising Plants. — I am of opinion that many of 

 our greenhouse plants, particularly those from the Cape, 

 maybe cultivated in the open air, even in our uncongenial 

 climate, with greater success than is generally supposed. 

 In proof of this, I planted out last autumn two plants of 

 Cacalia, one ficoides, L. and the other articulata, on 

 a small rock-work, at the end of a vinery. Not being 

 disposed to take them up and reset them, I left them to 

 take their chance. While they were nut of doors a sharp 

 night's frost set in, with a cold and high wind. I natu- 

 rally expected to find the plants destroyed, but upon ex- 

 amination, I found that they were not the least injured. 

 When the next frost appeared, I covered them with a 

 little hay, which was removed as soon as the frost weot 

 away, and now the plants are growing freely. Along 

 with the Cacalias was a plant of Aloe soccotrina, ( De C), 

 the leaves of which were destroyed, but the roots were 

 spared, ami are now sending up two fine suckers. While 

 speaking of this species of Aloe, I may observe, that 

 the leaves of this plant are much sought after here for 

 burns, &c; the leaf is cut in half, lengthways, the fleshy 

 side is then laid upon the burnt part, and it is said that 

 it greatly abates the pain. So much are these leaves 

 sought after by the inhabitants of Hillsborough, that our 

 plants are greatly mutilated by cutting off the leaves for 

 them. Now, if these fleshy-leaved plants will survive our 

 winters with a slight covering, why not hard-wooded 

 plants, from the same country ? At the same time, I put 

 out a plant of Goodia loiifolia. This stood a frost of 

 5° without the least protection, and in a very exposed 

 situation, but the second frost, which was very severe, 

 and of long duration, killed the plant to the ground; but 

 upon examination, I found the root, and that part of the 

 stem which was under the ground, as fresh as when 

 planted ; and I have no doubt but that the roots 

 would have sent up suckers, which this plant is very 

 apt to do, if it had been left in the ground. 1 ought 

 also to mention that the shoots were of one years 





\ 



growth, and quite tender, which was greatly against it. 

 I am, however, fully convinced that if the plaut 

 had been protected, it would have survived the winter. 

 The Ciianthus puniceus stands out here against the end 

 of a vinery, with a very slight protection, and that only 

 on very severe nights, and flowers abundantly in spring. 

 I would recommend thisplant to be cultivated as a stand- 

 ard in sheltered situations in flower-gardens and plea- 

 sure-grounds. It should be protected with a few Fir 

 branches, or old mats ; its beautiful scarlet flowers in the 

 spring months will amply 'repay the trouble. Azalea 

 indica alba also stands out here in the flower-gardens, 

 and flowers freely, with a few Fir branches laid over the 

 tops of the branches on very severe nights ; this plant 

 is 'generally cultivated in the greenhouse, summer and 

 winter. It will, however, thrive much better if kept, 

 during winter, in a cold frame or pit ; when wanted for 

 flowering, it should be placed in the greenhouse. I 

 jrmerly stated that Fuchsias ought to be abundantly 

 „ultivated in the open air : of the importance of this 1 

 am every day more and more convinced ; and it is my 

 opinion that they ought all to be thus treated, with the 

 exception of those which are intended as specimen plants, 

 for exhibitions, &c. ; butfor the tender species and vane- 



for 

 c 



servations will induce sore 



e of your correspondents to 



servauons wm niuucc »u»^ «• j — ,. ■ ,. . . / nP 



give the results of their experiments on ^ s «bjeet, tor 

 I feel confident that we shall hear of plant, which me 

 now choked up in greenhouses, growing freely m » 



open air with little or no protection durmg wi..M r , ana 

 Of those plants which are now hurnt up w a stove, gro 

 ing and flowering freely in the greenhouse.-^" 



M* In tosh. . . no f nr 



Influence of the Moon on Plants -k no ion «• «£ 

 merlr very prevalent among f'^X^Tl 



exist, to i^«£i*E^5£^!& particularly 

 moon 



in the 



ltous,e is given by the French to .be April moon. ir 

 the influence it is supposed to exert on *« ^ 

 plants, in turning them brown S 1. Ar.j go ^ ^ 

 that this notion is erroneous, the effect al luded .1 

 clearly owing to another cause, but one wh 1. mus 

 cessarily be in active operation on bright moon g 

 nights. He observed that in the men b of Apr. I 

 May the temperature at Bight is often ot mor 

 f„„r or si! deerees above the freezing point , a. ^^ 



has an injurious influence upon plants, P«"<»££ 

 months of April and May. J^^lLtZ 



four or six deg 



these circumstances, when the sky is ni radiated 



and the moon shining brightest, bca t i» ' turc ' a t 



from the earth sufficient to reduce the «?"" - 4 int; 

 the surface some degrees lower, «' ^ ,0 * f ^ are B n \ pp ed 



hence the tender leaves and roots of l^* J££ 



by cold, and that appearance given to i 1 ^^ 



is intended to be conveyed by the r re : from 

 I hare been induced to offer these observati 



