September 22, 1888.] 



THE GA I? DENE I? S' CHE ONI GL E. 



329 



tions of lovely landscapes are seldom lovely them- 

 selves, and rarely convey any idea to those who 

 have not seen them. The gardens, too, have 

 been shorn of much of their former magnificence, 

 but the exquisite landscape views remain, and it 

 would be a great oversight to omit mention, even in 

 ever so cursory a notice, of the grandest Sweet 

 Chestnuts to be seen in the country — such boles ! 

 such a world of knots and cracks ! such spiral fur- 

 rows ploughed in their bark ! What the age of these 

 veterans may be we cannot say. A thousand years is 

 attributed to them, but only vaguely. Probably they 

 are some few centuries short of the assigned age ; but, 

 in any case, on looking at these noble survivors of 

 bygone ages, the thought that Chestnut-wood might, 

 after all, have been used for building purposes in 

 England in those days, would arise, and so the glory 

 of the trees became associated in one's mind with 

 the marvels of architectural beauty and with the 

 records of history in a manner as suggestive as it 

 was interesting. One of these giants measures 46 

 feet in circumference at the base. 



One of the finest modern developments of Shrub- 

 land is the planting both sides of a ravine with 

 hardy Bamboos intermixed with Dracaenas, Cannas, 

 Maize, Funkias, and other bold and graceful plants. 

 This bids fair to form one of the most beautiful features 

 of the place, and owing to its situation possesses that 

 highest form of beauty — beauty of appropriateness. 

 Shrubland is also one of those places that has a some- 

 what out-of-the-way interest— an interest that would 

 not be felt but by a naturalist, for here it was that a 

 Barrington Peach produced on one branch a Peach 

 and a Nectarine : a " sport," says the gardener — a 

 dissolution of partnership, a separation of heretofore 

 mixed elements, says the botanist. But how ? 

 Why? Why was the phenomenon not repeated? 

 If one lived as long as those Chestnuts, time would 

 not suffice for the explanation of the mysteries of 

 vegetable life ! 



Plants and Their Culture. 



Cyclamex persiccm. — In raising plants of C. 

 persicum and its varieties, to bloom within fifteen 

 months from the time of sowing, the best practice is 

 to sow the seed in the autumn, soon after it is ripe, 

 in pans or boxes which have been well soaked in 

 water and properly crocked, and filled witli light 

 loam and leaf-mould, or peat with sand in about 

 equal proportions. Sow thinly, and fairly well cover 

 them, gently pressing them into the soil ; the pans 

 should afterwards be very lightly watered, and stood 

 or plunged in some moisture-holding material near 

 the glass, in a temperature of about 60°, special care 

 being taken to prevent the soil getting in the least 

 dry, covering with a piece of glass ; but they germi- 

 nate more freely, it kept sufficiently moist, without 

 such covering. As soon as the young plants have 

 developed a true leaf, they should be pricked off into 

 larger pans or boxes, still using a compost similar to 

 that employed in the seed pan. Return them to 

 the same temperature, but when they have made 

 another leaf the temperature may be allowed 

 to fall a few degrees, and when they have made 

 & nice crown of leaves they should be potted off 

 singly, using pots suited to the size of the plants. 

 At this and subsequent pottings use a rougher turfy 

 compost, one half of it being loam, with plenty of 

 sharp sand, and if a little quantity of some prepared 

 fertiliser be well incorporated the compost will 

 be improved. The potting should be done firmly, 

 leaving the crown of the corm level with the 

 soil. From what has been said it will be evident 

 that low-roofed structures are best suited for these 

 plants ; indeed, excellent results may be had with 

 frames even in winter, provided they'have sufficient 

 hot-water piping to prevent the temperature falling 

 below 45°, but with a low temperature considerable 

 care must be exercised in watering and in maintain- 

 ing the proper amount of atmospheric moisture. 

 Should either be in excess dampiog-ofl' will occur. 

 When coming into flower a mild, airy atmosphere is 

 indispensable to prevent spotting by damp. If the 

 stock is got up annually from seed (which is prefer- 

 able to keeping old plants) the first named tempera- 

 ture must be maintained, otherwise little progress 

 will be made. Any plants intended to flower this 



season, and which are not yet in their flowering pots, 

 should be pushed on with all diligence. The Cycla- 

 men is very subject to insect pests, and which, if 

 they once obtain a footing, and measures are not 

 speedily taken against them, quickly spoil the 

 plants. As a preventive thorough syringing during 

 growth is most advisable, and when that may 

 not be done there is no more effective plan than to 

 sponge and wash them in a weak solution of some 

 kind of insecticide. Having recently experimented 

 with insecticides I have obtained good results from 

 the soluble paraffin prepared by the Agri-Horticul- 

 tural Co., of Glasgow, but others are equally good, 

 especially tobacco-juice when of certain strength, — 

 but this article varies considerably. If fumigation 

 is resorted to it must be carefully done, as the leaves 

 are easily injured. F. Boss, "Pcndctt Court. 



The Hardy Fruit Garden. 



As the ingathering of Apples and Pears will soon 

 begin the fruit-rooms should be put in good order at 

 once, whitewashing the walls and ceilings and 

 cleaning the shelves, but not using much water, as 

 it will soak into the wood ; and, unless the shelves 

 can be thoroughly dried, their surface soon becomes 

 covered witli a white mould, which is very injurious 

 to fruit, especially Apples. If water be used it 

 should be during the summer season. It is always a 

 good plan to have the fruit-room for Apples and 

 that for Pears quite apart, for all that Apples 

 require is merely to have the frost kept from them, 

 whereas Pears, generally speaking, require a room 

 where a little artificial heat may be applied, so that 

 the average temperature can be kept at about 45°. 

 In these gardens there are two such rooms ; that for 

 Pears has a 3-inch flow and return hot-water pipe 

 running through it, with a valve placed in an adjoin- 

 ing shed, so that the heat can be regulated to a 

 nicety ; the Apple-roi m is unheated : it occupies 

 a northern position, and the walls are ',) inches thick. 

 In addition to the ordinary entrance door we have 

 another, which tits in tightly in the same frame, so 

 that there is a space of (3 inches clear between the 

 first and second door. By using this door, closing 

 the ventilators, and putting a shutter over the 

 window we are enabled to keep out frost, and the 

 Apples keep in a sound and plump condition until 

 the season is very far advanced, or Apples come 

 again. When speaking of Pears requiring a warmer 

 temperarure than Apples in which to ripen, I may 

 mention the following few varieties that are really 

 better flavoured when ripened in the cooler tempe- 

 rature of the Apple-room, viz., Seckle, Marechal de 

 la Cour, Dana's Hovey, Althorpe Crassane, and 

 Beurre Hardy. Fine weather having now set in 

 advantage should be taken of it to give all fruit 

 quarters a good hoeing, and the weeds should be 

 raked off, for they will take root again if left on the 

 ground. All fruit trees on walls, as well as 

 pyramid and bush trees, should be looked over for 

 the last time, and the young growths stopped back 

 closely to assist the fruiting spurs to plump up their 

 buds. A. Ward, Stoke Edith Park. 



Fruits Under Glass. 



Peaches. — The wood on the earliest trees will now 

 be well matured, and ready to drop; and a few Larch 

 twigs may be drawn lightly up the shoots to detach 

 any of the riper leaves, so as to allow of the sun 

 having free play upon the shoots. If the sashes of a 

 house have been removed, they should now be re- 

 placed, but the fullest ventilation should be afforded, 

 and the sashes closed only during heavy rain. In 

 houses where the roof is not portable, attention must 

 be given to watering the borders, even if the foliage 

 is falling, as the roots are still active and the buds in 

 need of nutriment. Now is the time to prevent bud 

 dropping by keeping the borders in a state of medium 

 moisture. Where the trees are old and have carried 

 a full crop of fruit, an occasional application of liquid 

 manure will prove very beneficial. Trees from which 

 the fruit has recently been picked, should have all the 

 superfluous shoots removed. The present is a good 

 time to attend to the borders, if the trees are not in a 

 satisfactory condition. Hazel loam of good quality with 

 an addition of old mortar rubbish will be found a suit- 

 able soil for the successful cultivation of the Peach. 

 Where the soil is of a tenacious nature a large 



addition of charred garden rubbish, brickbats 

 broken to the size of pigeon eggs, together 

 with the finer particles, and a liberal admixture 

 of mortar rubbish will be requisite to keep the soil 

 from running together. It may not be necessary to 

 wholly lift the trees, but if the roots have made their 

 way through the drainage, they must be brought to 

 within a short distance of the surface. Trees in late 

 houses will require some slight assistance of fire-heat 

 to maintain a sufficiently buoyant atmosphere, and 

 plenty of ventilation. Expose every fruit to the sun 

 as much as possible ; look sharply "after blue-bottle 

 flies and wasps, taking steps to trap or exclude them 

 from the house. 



Figs. — The earliest trees will now have mostly 

 shed their leaves ; they should, however, be fre- 

 quently syringed, and have occasional applications 

 of manure-water. Trees which are finishing their 

 crops should be afforded a genial dry atmosphere, so 

 that the proper flavour may be imparted to the fruits. 

 The syringe must not be used so freely as formerly, 

 and where the fruit is nearing maturity water should 

 not touch it. Let the fruit be quite ripe before 

 gathering ; they require at this season of the year 

 a much longer time to finish than during the summer 

 months. It is not too late to remove all sprayey 

 growth from trees which have just finished their 

 second crop, and if the trees are clean, the use of the 

 syringe may be largely dispensed with, and a nice 

 warm atmosphere maintained by fire-heat and sun- 

 hcat, with abundance of air, until the foliage falls 

 naturally. Remove all fruits which are visible. 

 Trees, walls, trellises, borders, and glass in the 

 early house should now be thoroughly cleansed, and 

 any necessarv painting done. W. M. Baillie. Luton 

 Hoo. 



The Kitchen Garden. 



Carkots. — Where soils are cold and wet, these 

 roots should now be taken up and stored, any excess 

 of moisture at this season causing them to split, 

 especially if it occur after a period of fine weather. 

 In sandy soils, such as the Carrot delights in, the 

 short-rooted varieties may be pulled up by hand, but 

 in others it is best to remove some of the soil away 

 from them with a fork previous to doing so. The 

 tops should be cut carefully so as not to injure the 

 crown, and any soil adhering to them should be cleaned 

 off; they will then be ready for storing. I find that 

 the roots keep the freshest when they are put up in 

 ridge-shaped heaps in any cool position outdoors. 

 These should be about 3 feet wide at the base and 

 2.V feet high. The roots should be carefully handled 

 so as not to bruise them, and packed in layers with 

 the crowns outwards. Enough straw should then be 

 drawn straight, and laid over the sides of the heap to 

 prevent the soil from touching them, and bunches of 

 straw fixed for ventilators along the top of the ridge 

 about 4 feet apart. The sides should then be covered 

 over with 6 inches in thickness of soil. In this way 

 Carrots will keep good until late in the spring. 



Beet should be carefully lifted and stored in a 

 manner similar to the Carrots before severe frost is 

 expected, this being the most tender root the 

 kitchen gardener has to deal with. Great care is 

 required in storing this vegetable so as not to break 

 or bruise the roots in any way ; and the tops should 

 not be cut but twisted off with the hand. 



Cauliflowers. — A piece of ground in a sheltered and 

 warm position should now be prepared for planting 

 these under hand-lights, by digging in a plentiful 

 supply of manure, preferably that from the cowyard, 

 and working the soil down well with the spade as the 

 work proceeds. W. H. Divers, Ketton Hail, Stamford. 



GREEN PEAS.— The district round Maldon, in 

 Essex, is famous for its green Peas, and a month 

 back the Great Eastern was running three trains 

 a day loaded with green Peas only. This summer 

 the crop has been heavier than ever; and one single 

 day, August 4, saw the biggest consignment on 

 record, amounting to 578 tons, .all of which were 

 safely delivered by 7 o'clock the following morning. 

 It shows the extraordinary character of the present 

 summer that the entire month of August last year 

 ouly accounted for 10 tons, while August, 1884, and 

 August, 1885, had only a total of 10 tons between 

 them. Murray's Magazine, September. 



