THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



grown up in less exposeu suuauuus. 

 enough in planting waste ground, to break up the 

 surface once, and leave the young trees to struggle 

 up through a dense mass of tangled weeds. Young 

 trees are often thus absolutely smothered ; yet the 

 cost of once or twice going over the ground again is 

 in all cases amply repaid, by the increased growth 

 and vigour which the young trees derive from that 

 operation. When weeds are permitted to grow 

 thickly round young trees, they prevent the latter 

 from growing, and absorb those matters which would 

 otherwise form the food of the young trees. 



There are no doubt places in which all the skill 



of the planter will at first fail in getting trees to 



grow, but even in such cases he need not despair ; the 



cause of his failure usually is, not that the soil is 



absolutely unfit to support vegetation of any kind, 



but that the circumstances being highly unfavourable, 



the plants are not able to get over that shock to 



their systems which they always suffer in ordinary 



transplanting. It is evident that plants which are 



moved with bare roots, as young trees are, must 



receive a far greater check than those which are 



moved with a ball of earth ; and it is very often 



found that a little extra care in the planting is well 



repaid, because if the tree survive this check, and 



form fresh roots, it will generally get such a hold 



upon the soil, that it is then able to grow up, and 



form a healthy tree. In planting the most barren 



and exposed situations then, particular care must be 



taken, and it appears in such cases to be well worth 



while to add some " improver " to the soil, thrown 



into the holes in which the trees are planted. The 



quantity required is small, its cost need not be great, 



and the labour of using it is a trifle, compared with 



the good effect produced by its application. 



The effect which it is desired to produce is the 

 formation of fresh roots, and any substance which 

 will cause the plant to throw out a quantity of 

 fibrous rootlets, will enable it to overcome the evil 

 effects of its being transplanted. It appears that 

 phosphoric acid possesses a very great and remark- 

 able influence on the development of roots, causing 

 plants to throw them out with unusual vigour ; we 

 do not know of any very satisfactory explanation of 

 this phenomenon, either chemical or physiological, 

 but of the fact itself there seems to be no doubt. 



into the rough leaf, and producing a more marked 



influence on their growth then, than it does at any 

 subsequent period, appears to depend chiefly on the 

 fact that it aids them in the formation and develop- 

 ment of roots. 



Superphosphate of lime is, therefore, a very valu- 

 able fertiliser in the hands of the planter, but in 

 using it he must always remember, that as his 

 plants must necessarily absorb the whole or the 

 greater part of the soluble manure which he gives 

 them, he must take care not to give them too much. 

 He must not suppose that if one handful will do 

 good, therefore ten handfuls will do more : it is very 

 easy to give too much, and plants, like animals, may 

 equally be injured by over feeding or by starvation. 



s 



The most convenient mode of employing this sub- 

 stance is in the form of superphosphate of lime, as 

 it is called, that is to say, a mixture of oil of vitriol 

 and burnt bones. This compound, which is rich 



mojtfvaluable aid to the planter ; a little of the 

 mixtu^ being thrown in round the roots of the 

 transplanted tree, aids greatly in the formation of 

 root fibres, and consequently assists very much in 

 establishing ttve plant in its new situation. Or, if 

 scattered over the soil next the roots, before it is 

 finally watered after planting, it is well distributed 

 to the places where it fc most required. 



When a young tree has its roots thrust into such 

 a hole as is made by a single cut of a spade, or even 

 by two cross cuts, the roots are crowded together, 

 and crushed into a small space ; they are unfitted 

 therefore to collect and absorb nourishment, at a 

 time when the plant stands peculiarly in need of it. 

 Not only is the freshly-planted tree able to obtain 

 little food by means of its roots, in consequence of 

 the mode in which it is planted, but the supply of 

 nourishment is at the same time also diminished in 

 consequence of the change of soil. In all cases the 

 soil of the nursery or seed plantations, having been 

 repeatedly dug over, and more or less manured, is 

 better suited to the growth of the young plants than 

 the soil into which they are transplanted can pos- 

 sibly be. When a plant is moved from one soil to 

 another its growth is always checked, and the first 

 step which it makes towards repairing the evil thus 

 caused, is the formation of fresh roots ; by bad 

 planting this is made as difficult as possible to the 

 plant. 



It is hardly fair to compare together the growth 

 of trees with that of the ordinary vegetables which 

 are cultivated in our kitchen gardens ; of course the 

 conditions necessary to the growth of an annual 

 differ from those proper to the healthy development 

 of a slow growing tree, which requires a long series 

 rf years to arrive at maturity ; but even in the case 



mon garden crops, the same general effects to 

 wrn^h we have just referred, may be observed. In 

 almo^ every case where it is desirable to increase 



ment of roots, phosphoric acid is of the 



the deve 



greatest va 

 to push 



them 



When we wish to force young plants 



fast as possible, so that 

 some hold upon the soil, the 



w i mi. ^ s one of the best manures 



we can employ. The m 



ma 



superphosphate of 



brings forward a crop of Tu: 

 this, and the remarkable waj 

 growth of the young plants 



in which that substance 



is an illustration of 



;h it assists the 





[Mar. o., 



quarters of an inch above IhT^l^r 

 raising it, accompanied with a lar<*e E r • - 

 in order to facilitate this operation we ml? °f *»* 



purp^ 





of the right hand, and the blade of "5^12 ?* ** 

 placed in the same hand, we can take hold nf *u ;? ^ 



bold of th, 



GRAFTING. 



No. XII. Budding with Pushing Eyes : figs. 15, 16, 17, 

 and 18. (Greffe en ecicsson a ceil poussant.) — Intemperate 

 and cold countries, this operation ought to be performed 

 during the first rise of the sap ; for by deferring much 

 longer the shoots springing from the inserted buds will 

 be in danger of not being sufficiently matured for with- 

 standing the frost : besides, this practice has the effect 

 of weakening the stocks, by depriving them of a large 

 quantity of foliage which they will then have acquired, 

 it being necessary to cut back the stocks an inch or so 

 above the bud, in order that it may be induced to push 

 immediately after its insertion, and care must always 

 be taken that the portion of stock left above be fur- 

 nished with one or two shoots or leaves. The object of 

 leaving this small piece of stem is to attract and con- 

 centrate the sap for the benefit of the bud. For the 

 better fulfilling this, and for preventing the incon- 

 veniences above pointed out, they now do not immedi- 

 ately cut off the snoots from the stock ; instead of doing 

 so they bend them into the form of a huntsman's 

 horn, and keep them in that state till the buds have 

 fairly commenced to push, and then they cut them back 

 to within about one-eighth of an inch of the bud. This 

 operation, although less injurious than the preceding, 

 causes the privation of a great quantity of foliage at 

 the time when the trees are most in want of it, 

 for protection against the excessive heat and drought, 

 which is almost certain to occur, at that period 

 of the season ; and the consequence is that the vigour of 

 the tree is suddenly checked ; and nothing but abun- 

 dant waterings can possibly re-establish it. This mode 

 of budding is only used for a few kinds of trees and 

 shrubs ; among the latter, Roses are more especially 

 included, the species or varieties called Hybrid Per- 

 petuals ( Remontantes), and Bengals being worked in 

 this way ; but those amateurs who find themselves 

 under the necessity of practising it, and who wish to 

 maintain the vigour of their stocks, make a point of 

 preserving as many leaves as possible, and bud only 

 the strong shoots and branches ; and with regard to the 

 weak, they only cut them back when the inserted buds 

 arejn a good state of vegetation. 



Fig. 17. Fig. IS. 



Fig. 18 



I 



nit 









fruit 



Fig. 16. 



by this mode before the leaves make their appearance, 

 such as the Mulberry, Walnut, Chestnut, &c. ; but in 

 order to succeed well with these, it is necessary to 

 take buds from the two-year-old wood ; and in this 

 case the branches had better be cut off in March, and 

 preserved as has been directed for the shoots intended 

 for cleft grafting. When the vegetation of the stocks 

 destined for the reception of these buds shall have 

 become decidedly active, the branches should be taken 

 from then- entrenchment, washed without much rubbing 

 then wrapped in a damp cloth and placed from 30 to 



tL 11 ^ ' m ? moisfc atmos P he re of between 60° and 

 77 i., m order to expand their latent sap, so as to 

 render it possible to detach their bark from the albur- 

 num without laceration. 



This state of the sap, almost indispensable for the 

 proper raising of the buds, is also necessary for the 

 buddmg performed later ; but whatever may be the 

 season, the buds are removed as follows :— With the 

 blade of the grafting knife, we cut the shoot obliquely 



(see Fig. IS) ; then we place the blade about three- 



descend, sloping towards the eye rntr ** 

 the bark, and a small portion of thV oik 8 

 blade should preserve the same sW^^ ^ 

 under the eye, and continuing its course m ? ^ 

 first cut. This eye, furnished with itTtwl * ***€ 

 should be keenly examined when turned i 1 * ** 

 this examination, as well as for everything l *** • 

 ing to be done before placing it in the stool: *J* 

 lightly between the fingers of the left hand ** **! 

 one of these we gently bend down the norf *** ** 



i 



b 



habituated in raising the eye, the patch ItiM^ 

 too thick (and this we shall always know to bf^ 

 when it brings the eye along with it), we must ? «. 

 whole, m order that it may separate without tea*L 

 that essential part. Then, in front of the stocks* 

 ference to the place where it is to be planted n!^ 1 * 

 follows : With the blade of the grafting kiK! 11 

 horizontal incision, which shall embrace almost oiSkl 

 of the stock, cutting through the bark as far i? 

 alburnum ; another incision to the same depth shdrilk 

 made downwards and perpendicular to the first fclll 

 representing the letter T ; then slightly raise the^»? 



above the point, and remove it ; but this reran ?^ 

 not extend beyond the corculum, which ought ti^ 

 served entire. If in consequence of Tint \J ^ 



ua^^ia^i :- — :~:-_"i.t-, \ _ uut Being «* 



* 



at the circular cut, taking care that in doracr soli 

 handle of the budding knife does not 

 cambium.f 



bruise fe 



Thus prepared, as seen at fig. 17, the bud should 

 introduced under the two lips of the cut, then onljiT 

 tially opened, for it is generally by the bud being pX" 

 and gently pressed in by the thin part of the hamfctf 

 the budding knife, and in conjunction with it thttfc 

 opening is sufficiently effected. When the bud a m. 

 fectly fitted at the base, and placed as is representeifc 

 portion of bark which extends above the trans?** 

 line is cut off. This operation is represented by fi? % 

 The two lips are then brought towards each other td 

 fixed over the bark appertaining to the bud, by me* 

 of a ligature, generally of woollen or thick cotton thnd* 

 the length of this thread being proportioned to la 

 thickness of the stock ; two- thirds of the length shoid 

 be kept in reserve in the right hand, the rest it fe 

 disposal of the left. Thus divided, we place it oppoato 

 the bud, and draw the two ends with a moderate fora, 

 crossing them above the bud, and as close to it as pt» 

 sible, without covering it. Two or three other ta* 

 should be made in the same manner. With rezard to 

 the finishing of the ligature, of which the object is to 

 cover the rest of the wound, it will be sufficient to wial 

 the thread continuously in the same direction, nd fimbl 

 secure it by a half-knot. When the stocks are extrendj 

 vigorous, it is prudent to inspect the ligatures an 

 after their application, and to loosen them occasioniM 

 in order to preserve the buds from being strangH,] 

 When the bud shall have completely taken, the ligatoe 

 may be removed ; and we then take care to cut of iB 

 shoots springing from the stock below the bud, in oriff 

 that the latter may appropriate the whole of the apJ 

 Translated from the French of D'Albret 



VILLA AND SUBURBAN GARDENING. 



Plants under glass, whether in houses or » 

 glasses, require a constant supply of fresh air. Althcw 

 the importance of this has been often pointed out, fc 

 practice is frequently neglected, cultivators of P**j 

 goniums for market excite the temperature considewjj 

 by night, but during the day, in mild weather, tiff! 

 houses are thrown open as much as they possibly 

 be. Those who grow early Cauliflowers for mi 

 never neglect on all favourable occasions to ^^."J 

 remove the gland-glasses which cover them. If tins _ 

 notdone,the plants, although excited bynoartutal n» 

 would become drawn and feeble. Amateur ga- 

 always complain that their plants become ta V£ 

 that they are unlike those to be seen, even on the \m 

 of hawkers about town. They therefore consld ^L 

 there must be some secret in the mode of ^tS\ 

 them, which they have not yet discovered. &w« ^ 

 introduction of sheet glass, larger panes are v&h 

 hence the necessity of providing for the admir 

 a corresponding amount of air, which would/ un 

 system of small pane glazing, have founo 

 through the laps. It therefore becomes a matt :L J 

 consideration in the erection of houses for pi * 

 provide ample ventilation. It can be usedoi r ■ 

 cording as it may be required. The heating P™^} 

 is generally the subject of most a^ntion, * . 



tilation rarely receives much consideration, "^ 

 fcima-n mo*, u* m . nv MMPR. be entirely uw r^i 



air, that during summer and winter, both nig ^ 

 a constant stream is admitted to plants even ^ ^ 

 a tropical temperature. Contrivances ^j $1 



adopted for supplying the roots of w»P ^ 

 other plants with air. In modern gardening r^± 

 the means of obtaining light have beencmen/_^- 



• A scientific name, for which I am incHne* toi ^ »£ 

 Of root, seeing that this small fleshy body ' * ^ t al V iD \ 

 half-wood v, in attached to the germ, eye, or ^ gtocfc^ 

 cannot, without its assistance, implant iwc» h ^t* «*" 



t A gummy semi- crystallised substance,^ 

 the bark, and remaini attached to the alburnum. 



