224. 



JOUKNAIi OF HORTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GARDENEE. 



[ March 21, 1865. 



the implements, ic, that arc in general use, or are likely 

 to be reqim-ed in an ordinary villa garden ; but of neai-ly 

 every kind of implement named there are different varieties 

 which it would be worth while to notice in order that the 

 best might be selected. For instance : to bef;in with 



IMPLEMENTS FOR MOVING SOIL, &c. 



■Wheelbakkows. — That kind in general use about Lon- 

 don I consider to be very well contrived, on account of being 

 fitted with a portable top. This allows of a great deal of 

 light rubbish, leaves, or litter, being placed on it, and by 

 taking oil' the top, the barrow is handy for wheeling gravel 

 or other heavy material. There is a kind of wheelbarrow in 

 general use in the northern and midland counties, which, al- 

 though not so light and handy for garden -use, is more so 

 in the greenhouse or among potted plants, on account of 

 having a flat bottom, which is convenient for plants or soU, 

 and makes a veiy good portable potting-beuch. I have fre- 

 quently found it very useful in this way ; pots are filled with 

 soil ready mixed, and placed near the pipes in the hothouse 

 to wai'm, the barrow is next drawn in, and Pines and other 

 stove plants can then be potted without I'emoving them out 

 of the house. Even in the greenhouse, supposing there is 

 no stove or hothouse, potting may be done in frosty, snowy, 

 or rainy weather, without having to carry the plants out, 

 and much injui-y to these may thus be prevented. I have 

 seen a wheelbarrow similar to that in common use about 

 London, having two wheels fitting closely, or nearly so, to 

 the sides of the barrow, nearly in the position where the 

 ends of the axle are seen in the one-wheeled barrow. This 

 arrangement, of course, makes the load lighter for wheeling. 

 It is also well for turning and shooting, biit for various 

 reasons it is not so generally useful as the one-wheeled 

 barrow, not the least being, that it cannot be conveniently 

 used on boards or planks, and then the extra expense is 

 scarcely compensated for by any advantage that I can per- 

 ceive. Various contrivances have been brought into use at 

 times for carrying plants in pots. Barrows have been made 

 with one wheel, with two, and with three, or even four 

 wheels, but all are more or less objectionable — the one- 

 wheeled barrow on account of the impracticability of obtain- 

 ing a level surface while the bai-row is at rest; and when in 

 motion the two-wheeled has the same fault. This is ob- 

 viated in the three and four-wheeled barrows, but these are 

 not so easily moved about into the shed or greenhouse. 

 Where more than one man is employed, a barrow without 

 any wheels will, probably, be most handy, so that we pass 

 on to 



Handbaeeows. — These are chiefly used for carrying plants 

 from one place to another, but a handbarrow requires two 

 persons to use it. Plants are thus moved about without 

 the jolting and shaking they would receive in the wheel- 

 barrow. The handbaiTOw may also be used as a potting- 

 bench inside the stove or greenhouse. A handy size of one 

 for ordinary use, would be about 4 feet long, exclusive of 

 the handles, and about 25 feet wide. Something of a rail 

 round the sides would make it more convenient for small 

 pots or holding soil; but when chiefly used for large plants, 

 it would be better without it. About IS inches would be 

 high enough, for I think it would bo a mistake to make it 

 any higher. I have seen them higher, but such seem to mo 

 to be clumsy, compared with those that have shorter legs. 

 If the handles are a little bent they look bettor. 



Small trays or handbarrows without legs are sometimes 

 used to move large plants about ; the plants are tilted on 

 one side, and one edge of the tray thrust under the plant or 

 pot; the plant is then drawn on and easily lifted about with 

 less fear of breakage than would otherwise be the case. 



Having made some alterations here lately, and the nature 

 of the ground being such that the wheelbarrow could not 

 well be used, I have made use of a two-handlod box, the box 

 being about 18 inches deep, the same in length and breadth. 

 This is conveniently fitted with two handles so as to be 

 carried between two men in the manner of a handbarrow. 

 With this some scorea of tons of sand, gravel, peat, loam, 

 4c., have been moved about, and that without making the 

 ruts and markn that a whoolbarrow would. I nm aware that 

 there is nothing now in the idea, as Kimihir contrivances arc 

 in use; I merely give the hint, as such a box may be easily 

 conatractod by any one who can handle a saw and hammer. 



and it will be found useful in muddy weather as a cleaner 

 method of moving soil than the wheelbarrow. Such barrows 

 as these requii-e two persons to work them, consequently, 

 where but one man is employed there will be little use for 

 them. In that case, a flat-bottomed wheelbarrow will be 

 found most useful. — F. Chittt. 



(To be contlDued.) 



[We purposed publishing the foregoing portion of Mr. 

 Chitty's communication last week, but withdrew it upon re- 

 ceiving the painful intimation that death had suddenly 

 removed him from among our helpmates. Since then we 

 have received the following from his employer: — 



" Gentlemen,— It is with sincere regret I annonnce the death of your able 

 contributor, Mr. F. Cliitty, after only three days' illness, and at the early 

 a^e of thirty-three. Although he has been in my service but a little more 

 than two years, yet the confidence I had in him was unbounded; He was 

 in all things a trustworthy and faithful servant, and respected by all who 

 knew him, not only for his ability us a gardener, but for his kind and tm- 

 assuming manners. He was ever ready to impart and to receive any in. 

 formation connected with his profession, and ttiough he has been here but 

 so short a time, yet will he be much missed by the lovers of horticulture in 

 this neighbourhood. He has left a widow and five young children (the 

 oldest not yet nine years old), to lament his loss, and totally unprovided for. 

 I, therefore, feel no hesitation in appealing to the kind feelings of the 

 readers of your Journal for some assistance for the poor widow and children, 

 feeling sure that all who have read his sound practical articles on horticul- 

 tural subjects, will contribute something to alleviate so distressing and 

 deserving a case. Will you kindly consent to receive any contributlona 

 that may be forwarded to you ? —I am, &c., Thomas VV^BLiiY, The Uplands, 

 Selly Oak, near Birmingham. 



*' P. S.— Should any of your readers wish for further information, 1 shall 

 bo happy to give iL I enclose a list of contributions already forwarded to 

 T. W." 



£ B. d. 



Mr. J. Wcbley 110 



Mr. Hy. Weblcy 5 



Mr. Smith, Moscley 10 



Mr. Rogers fa gardener) ... 6 

 Proprietors of " Journal of 

 Horticultnre" 2 



We shaU readily receive any contributions to this fund 

 and forward them to Mr. Webley, whose generous testimony 

 to the merits of his late servant we heartily sustain. Mr. 

 Chitty was always to be relied upon, and though well skilled 

 never gave a hasty oijinion; though vei-y unassuming he 

 was firm in sustaining what he felt was the truth. We 

 confidently ask our readers to aid in helping the widow and 

 orphans of a man so worthy in every way. — Eds.] 



me.- 



Mr. Thomas Webley 10 10 



Sir. Pendleton 1 1 



Mr. Charles Winn 2 2 



Miss Winn 1 1 



Mr. Webley, jan 2 2 



Mr. P. Weblev 1 1 



THE MODEEN PEACH-PEUNEE. 

 No. 6. 



TRANSPLANTI.NG. 



The time and mode of planting a young Peach tree may 

 now be considered. Vei-y much of the after-success of the 

 tree depends on this being rightly done ; therefore it is a 

 more important operation than at first sight might appear. 



A tree may either be reared in our own gardens, or it may 

 be purchased at some neighbouring nursery. In either case 

 it need not be long out of the ground ; and this constitutes 

 a case dift'oring somewhat from that in which trees are re- 

 ceived from a distance. 



In the first supposition, if the tree has been trained against 

 a warm wall, with all its branches and shoots fairly exposed 

 to the sun, then it will be in first-rate condition for trans- 

 planting. By taking care of the all-important spongioles, 

 by replanting at a short interval of time carefidly in a suit- 

 able soil, and on a mUd and genial day, no check will take 

 place, and root and leaf will soon resume their reciprocal 

 i'unctions. Supposing the tree not to have boon reared 

 under such favourable conditions, but still not to have been 

 more than a few hours out of the ground before replanting, 

 it may then also bo depended upon, cai-e being taken not 

 to mutilate the roots, which is the main point, to continue 

 its growth without much check. 



In both these cases early planting is recommondod. The 

 leaves being stUl on the branches, though they droop when 

 the tree is lifted, they will soon recover their state of 

 tension, and be ready to receive their daily supply of aap 

 from the roots, which, being unmutilated, will also shortly 

 recommence their proper functions. 



Wo may even expect that some new cellular tissue ■will be 

 added to the spongioles by reason of this early change of 

 place before winter comes on ; for if transplanting be done 

 in October, there is at that period much latent and unex- 



