1S44.J 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



ft 



749 



Home Correspondence. 



Pruning of Forest-trees. — By the Chronicle of the 



19th ult., I perceive that the dispute between the 



pruners and the non-pruners has been recommenced, 



and does not seem to promise a speedy conclusion. Dr. 



Thackeray and his man are strong in the flourishing 



""k condition of their plantations, while Mr. Billington and 



°^jt « Quercus" are by no means disposed to admit the suc- 



^*'< ce ;; °f Dr. TVs Bystem. The parties even differ aa to the 



principles of the food and growth of trees, as well as to 



'*"**• the brst mode of depriving them of their branches. 





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Now it appears to me that, as far at least as theory 

 goes, these matters may very easily be decided. The 

 principles of vegetable physiology, relating to the 

 growth of trees, are now sufficiently ascertained, and 

 are shortly as follow:— The roots absorb sap from the 

 earth ; the sap ascends the stem, pervades the branches, 

 is elaborated in the leaves, and descends towards the 

 ground, depositing a layer of new wood along with the 

 peculiar products of the tree. There is no doubt also 

 but that a considerable portion of the carbon required to 

 form the woody fibre is derived from the atmosphere. 

 Reasoning from these principles, we must arrive at the 

 conclusion that the more leaves a tree possesses (and 

 consequently the more branches), the greater will be 

 the quantity of sip elaborated, and the larger the fresh 

 layer of wood. Therefore, to prune to any extent, is 

 just to impede in a corresponding proportion the growth 

 of the tree. As to the method in which pruning should 

 be performed, if we amputate at once a brauch of any 

 size, we diminish in a certain degree the increase of the 

 tree during the next two or three years ; but if we 

 cautiously foreshorten the same branch one season, and 

 two or three after, cut out the remainder, we give the tree 

 time to recover the loss, by the formation of new branches, 

 and so render its growth more equal. If we adopt 

 the theory (which I am disposed to believe), of the ex- 

 pansion of the leaves in spring being the cause and not 

 the effect of the ascent of the sap, these inferences will 

 be more evident. Theory, then, is in favour of the non- 

 pruning system, and nature corroborates the advantages 

 of it, by the immense stems which single trees often 

 display, compared with their brethren of the plantations. 

 But nature must sometimes be assisted by art, and in 

 order to produce length of stem, and freedom from knots 

 and inequalities (properties that are in daily requisi- 

 tion), we are forced to prune to a certain extent. " Quer- 

 cus " asks, " What is judicious pruning ? " And I think 

 with him that this expression requires to be more correctly 

 defined than hitherto. It were much to be wished that 

 some practical man, who has pruned on scientific princi- 

 ples, would make known his experience on the subject. 

 It certainly appears to me that neither Dr. Thackeray's 

 principles nor his practice are the true ones. — Dendro- 



philus. " L. L." says :— " 1 have planted largely for 



many years, and latterly, from practice and experience, 

 with good success. 'As doctors differ/ I hardly 

 think I s hall ever feel disposed to try the experiment of 

 cutting off an arm or leg, when weakness and infirmities 

 come upon me, to make my body stronger. The theory 

 is new to me, and -somewhat startling. In pruning, 

 one's predecessor may have neglected his woods, and 

 forced upon those coming after him to use the saw and 

 hatchet, to put them into goodly shape and order ; but I 

 uphold that they are great enemies to foresters gene- 

 rally, even in men's hands who consider themselves 

 great tree doctors. In infancy, plantations should have 

 your best consideration, and if for six or seven years you 

 will ' teach the young idea how to shoot,' by pruning 

 them, and keep them clean, all that is required after- 

 wards, or nearly so, would be to cut down and give 

 room for those trees most valuable in shape, kind, and 

 quality (saving thereby labour and expense), to remain, 

 and as they continue rilling up again the ground, renew 

 the attack from time to time, as the growth of the trees 

 demand. It is, I fancy, a by-gone idea that there is 

 great profit in planting, and the idea quite obsolete that 

 Planting your best land is more profitable, in the long- 

 run, than sowing it with grain. "Where land is not easily 

 cultivated, poor lime stony land, the slopes of moun- 

 tains, and, indeed, the summits of them, sandy plains, 

 ttd steep declivities, I would say, might and do pay ; 

 at any rate, they would improve the bordering property, 

 warm, and adorn it. I have seen lands planted on a 

 , ar ge scale, too poor for culture and too bleak for turn- 



J?,? !f to ^^ a S e » where trees have sprung up, and been 



down after 30 to 35 years' growth, except broad 



twenty-acre fields ; and those fields, from 





be 



continued : 



h",*.?! 10 prunes at all - at lea9t ■ 



•fn™ 1 .' 11 ? ^"! to define it. T 

 « Pruning i S that which T nmrris, 



cut 



belts round 



so many years' fall" of the leaf, have borne the sweetest 



rasses, and become very valuable sheep-paddocks. In 

 wen districts there is a strong incentive to plant, where 

 g»tt have an heir to reap the benefit of your outlay. 



a»cs will grow almost in any soil, by planting with 

 ^em those good nurses, the Scotch Fir, Larch, and 



the 6r ' - e tnese a * r > sun » shelter, and attention when 



y * re <l u ite young, and clip their tender shoots with 



the b r8 ' rather lhan hack and hatchet them wh " 

 p r anches become strong, is the advice of one who 

 °ntey d in early lifej bufc did nQt find u tQ answer# » 



askg «\vk* F r . unin ff of Forest-Trees.— ■•' Quercus" 



• s ' V"at is judicious pruning, and how long is it to 



ntinnp^ ?» j u di c [ oug p run i n g i 8 every bod\ 's 



in their own opinion. 

 The preventive system 



Hear t n n~r\ -hich I practise, and which comes 



Practic . rcusV ' notion of "no pruniug;" but the 



finds Ce f rec l u ^ res t0 De followed up occasionally on some 

 from 15 t tree *' from a vei 7 young state until they are 

 it* Mr P u P w &rds of 20 feet in height. The fine Larch i in aepiu, upun a ciusu parvpioub ui ■»«»») y»«»w«-« «^v« « . 



• t»ore a plantation, and the finest of others men- 1 stratum of lime-rubbish, over one of gravel, upon a per- 1 



turned in a former communication, have had no scientific 

 or judicious pruning by man. Mr. Gore's Larcb had 

 been surrounded by other trees, but not too near, which 

 kept its branches within a moderate compass, and of a 

 moderate size— just what the preventive system would 

 effect. The same principle holds good with all other 

 trees, when length, quality, and bulk of stem is required ; 

 consequently, very little pruning (lopping) will be re- 

 quired, if trees are properly trained on that system from 

 a young state.— TV. Billington. 



tVilmot's Black Hamburgh Grape.— In looking over 

 the report of the articles exhibited at a late meeting of 

 the Horticultural Society, I observe that particular notice 

 is taken of a Grape named " Wilmot's New Black Ham- 

 burgh." The berries are described as being " more fleshy, 

 much larger than those of the old Black Hamburgh, and 

 remarkable for having the surface covered with small 

 indentations, as if they had been beaten with a hammer; 

 the bunches beautifully covered with bloom." On refer- 

 ring to " Speechley's Treatise on the Vine," I find a 

 Grape named simply, a Black Grape from Tripoli. Now, 

 as this had been then only recently received direct from 

 that part when Speechley was writing his Treatise, he had 

 only fruited it very imperfectly in a pot ; but Mr. 

 Thompson afterwards had it planted into the diffused 

 borders of the vineries, and the plants are now, as they 

 were then, labelled « Black Tripoli," as is likewise the 

 case at Worksop Manor. Now, the description of Wil- 

 mot's New Black Hamburgh so exactly agrees with the 

 Welbeck Tripoli Grape, that I am much inclined to 

 imagine it is one and the same Grape, which, from the 

 indented surface of the berries, is usually distinguished 

 by the name of dimpling. When the sun shines upon 

 them they are readily seen to be very different from 

 the Old Black Hamburgh, to which in general.appearance 

 the bunches have considerable resemblance, and in most 

 places pass as such. This is a misfortune, as it it a much 

 superior Grape, and often at Exhibitions takes the Ham- 

 burgh prizes, under the mistaken name of the Old Black 

 Hamburgh. The Black Tripoli is a very different Grape 

 from the W T elbeck one, which may be said to be the very 

 first on the list of black Grapes; and if judiciously 

 treated has always fine black berries. It is as free a 

 bearer as the the Old Black Hamburgh, and continues 

 much longer in perfection than that variety, on account 

 of its being less tender in the skin, more fleshy and solid, 

 and also more saccharine. The berries grow as close 

 together on the bunches as do those of the Old Black 

 Hamburgh, and the bunches therefore require to be 

 timely and well thinned. — J. Mearns. 



The Golden Pippin Apple.— la the Chronicle (p. C22) 

 it is said, " That celebrated physiologist (Mr. Knight) 

 considered the Golden Pippin Apple to be in the last 

 stage of decay. This doctrine of the deterioration and 

 degeneracy of some of our best old Apples is unquestion- 

 ably opposed to analogy in trees generally." The late 

 Mr. Loudon was also of this opinion. About a century 

 back, a large portion of the Herefordshire and Shrop- 

 shire orchards consisted of the Golden Pippin and other 

 celebrated old fruits, most of which have long perished 

 by age and disease. We are now as fond of good fruits 

 and fine cider as our forefathers, and repeated attempts 

 have not been wanting by planters to substitute these old 

 fruits as orchard trees again, but all have hitherto proved 

 unsuccessful. Upon a border of rich dry sand, against 

 a low wall, I have now dwarf plants of these sorts in a 

 good bearing state ; and as yet they are perfectly free 

 from canker. But this will not last. It is only the old 

 man whose life is a little lengthened by being set at ease 

 from toil and exposure in the chimney-corner. Rather 

 than lose time and excite vain expectations in mooting so 

 settled a point, it is much better to follow the track of 

 the celebrated physiologist, in proving, as he has done, 

 that the best old fruits, if not to be exactly re-organised, 

 may be substituted by similar, or better, for ages to come. 

 — Quatfordensis. 



Rhododendron campanulatum. — Among "the^ many 

 ornamental shrubs that "now decorate our pleasure- 

 grounds, none are more deserving a place than this beau- 

 tiful species, whose compact habit, fine dark sea-green, 

 and curious rusty foliage, contrasting with the magnificent 

 white blossoms, never fail to attract the eye, and stamp 

 it as one of the best hardy evergreens we have. Seeds 

 were first sent to this country by Dr. Wallich, from 

 Gosaingsthan, a mountainous region to the north of the 

 valley of Nepal. Many plants have been got by grafting, 

 but they are found not to answer so well as from seed or 

 layers. — Kboracum. 



Shanking of Grape*. — Much has been said at differ- 

 ent times in the Chronicle, on the shanking of Grapes, 

 which the highest authorities have pronounced to be 

 occasioned by the improper formation of the border in 

 which the Vines are planted. Now, in the absence of 

 facts, such authority, even when founded in theory, would 

 be considered almost conclusive. I have it in my power, 

 however, to relate a/act, which proves beyond all doubt 

 that it does at least proceed from other causes also. 

 About CO years ago I prepared a border with the greatest 

 care, the plan of which was submitted to and approved 

 of by the late venerable President of the Horticultural 

 Society. The Vines grew the first year with extraordi- 

 nary vigour ; and in the second produced a considerable 

 quantity of fruit, much of which " shanked off," as 

 gardeners oddly term it, and this has been the case 

 more or less ever since, although the mode of treatment 

 has undergone various changes. About 12 years after 

 planting, being desirous of introducing bones and other 

 materials into the border (which averages about two feet 

 in depth, upon a closo pavement of brick, placed upon a 



fectly dry natural bottom of blue schistus), I had it 

 turned over, and was much surprised to find almost all 

 the roots near the surface. Most of them were replaced 

 in a similar situation, and the remainder a little lower. 

 Now, if we consider that in the first instance it was 

 highly improbable (if indeed possible), that the roots 

 could have penetrated into anything ungenial, and that 

 subsequently, nearly all the roots were found near the 

 surface, it appears almost certain that the cause usually- 

 assigned could not operate here, and must be sought for 

 elsewhere. From long and tolerably close observation I 

 am inclined to suppose that it might be occasioned by 

 moisture collecting on the stalks of the Grapes during 

 night, and the rays of the sun falling suddenly upon them, 

 in a heated and confined atmosphere, before such 

 moisture was sufficiently dissipated. If so, the present 

 system of hot-water gutters may prove very prejudicial, 

 which I have some reason to fear is the case, from the 

 more than ordinary quantity of shanked Grapes in two 

 divisions of my vinery this year, heated by tank gutters; 

 whereas, in an adjoining division warmed by other 

 means, there was no perceptible difference. Where the 

 gutters were used, I also observed that many of the 

 largest Vine-leaves damped off and fell, having rotted 

 near the base of the foot- stalks. I hope that the atten- 

 tion of practical readers will be drawn to these points, as 

 it may assist in clearing up the mystery that hangs over 

 this subject. — An Amateur. 



Thrips, S[c — The following paper, On a Simple and 

 Effective Mode of Killing the Red Spider, Green Fly, 

 Thrip, and Scale, without injury to Plants, was read 

 at a meeting of the Horticultural Society of London, 

 2d August, 1837:— "Put the pots or plants into a 

 frame well closed, and then Laurel-leaves bruised between 

 them, when in the course of an hour the whole of the 

 spiders and flies will be destroyed by the odour, which 

 is that of Prussic acid ; the thrip and scale will be 

 destroyed in about eight hours — the night time being the 

 most favourable for the experiment. For a house of 

 20 feet by 12, two bushels of leaves would be amply 

 sufficient." I have not tried this mode of destroying 

 these insects, but should like much to know if it'has 

 been proved to be successful in every case, it being a 

 very superior method of extirpating such pests. — Delta. 



Destruction of Green-fly. — I wish some of our che- 

 mists who are fond of floriculture would give their at- 

 tention to the destruction of these pests of our green- 

 houses and frames. What we want is something as effec- 

 tual as tobacco-smoke, cheaper, and of more easy appli- 

 cation. I would suggest they should endeavour to sup- 

 ply us with some preparation in the form of pastiles, 

 combining the above essentials. The demand would be 

 very great. If nothing can be found to take the place 

 of tobacco, a preparation of it in the above form would 

 be very useful, enabling amateurs and ladies to keep this 

 troublesome insect under. It should be remembered by 

 such as may incline to give attention to the subject, 

 that in filling a house with tobacco-smoke, it is neces- 

 sary to keep some damp hay upon thet p of the tobacco, 

 to prevent the heat of the smoke scorching the plants, 

 and to be most effective, it should be produced very ra- 

 pidly. An ample reward would attend success, but no- 

 thing should be offered to the public that has not the re- 

 commendations above named, viz., destruction of the in- 

 sect, simplicity of application, and both combined with 

 economy. — E. iV. Beck. 



Marc de Colza. — I observe in a late Paper, speaking 

 of manure for Tulips, that Colza is explained to be a 

 kind of Rape grown about Caen ; and it is asked whether 

 oil-cake will do as well as Marc de Colza. The fact is, that 

 Marc de Colzi is oil-cake ; Colza being the common 

 name for the Rape-seed so much cultivated for oil in the 

 north of France and Belgium. — G. O. 



Peas. — As the time for planting Peas is fast approach- 

 ing, it may be of service to know that the first plants may 

 be preserved from mice by simply saturating them in a 

 strong solution of Bitter Aloes. — Early Charlton. 



Societies. 



HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 

 Nov. 5. — The Rev. J. Antrobus in the chair. 

 — In consequence of the darkness of the day, this 

 meeting was held by gas-light. Among plants, per- 

 haps the most remarkable object exhibited to the 

 meeting, on this occasion, was a beautiful cut speci- 

 men of Renanthera coccinea, from Mr. Webster, gr. to 

 Mrs. Huskisson. This Chinese plant, which is one 

 of the oldest of its class imported by the Horticul- 

 tural Society, is common near Canton, where it delights 

 to scramble over old walls, on which its large spikes of 

 rich scrrlet flowers have a very imposing effect. Although 

 Mr. Webster stated that this was the sixth season in 

 which this plant had bloomed successively with him, yet 

 it does not flower in this country with any certainty : and 

 it seems by accident that the desired effect is produced. 

 This is the more to be regretted, for the flowers continu- 

 ing open for a considerable length of time, are very use- 

 ful for drawing-room decoration. A Banksian Medal 

 was awarded for it. — Of other Orchidaceous plants F. G. 

 Cox, Esq., sent Lselia Perrinii, a beautiful species, and the 

 rare Cattleya pumila, which is the least handsome of that 

 genus. — From Mr. Robertson, gr. to Mrs. Lawrence, were 

 good plants of Galeandra Baueri, Mormodes citrina, a 

 finely-grown specimen of Epidendrum nutans, covered 

 with large clusters of green-coloured blossoms ; the old 

 Cypripedium venustum, Lselia Perrinii, Saccolabium 

 denticulatum, and Stanhopea venusta, the latter produc- 

 ing a fine spike of yellow blossoms — From the same 

 collection were also Erica Banksiana purpurea, and Lam- 



berti rosea, the latter covered with small flesh-coloured 



