Aprfl M, 1865. ] 



JOTTENAL OF HOETIOULTUKE ATTO COTTA(JB (JABDENEE. 



335 



because it can hardly be cat-in wrongly, as there is a leaf- 

 bnd present with each group of blossom-buds. 



3. The Mixed Shoot (fig. 3), Rameau mixte, Dabreuil. 

 — This class partakes of the characters of Nos. 1 and 2, 

 having the leaf-buds of the for- 

 mer (only frequently doubled), 

 for some way up, and then 

 changing icto the fruit-bear- 

 ing groups peculiar to No. 2. It 

 indicates a stronger growth 

 than class JTo. 2. and is pro- 

 bably due to a vertical position 

 at the upper side of some 

 branch, or an extension of some 

 bush tree. Perhaps a cold wet 

 spring, abruptly succeeded by 

 bright sun has altered its cha- 

 racter and caused blossom- 

 bnds to be produced high up 

 the shoot. These changes are, 

 however, subject to laws not 

 yet well explained. This class 

 requires careful summer hand- 

 ling, and is more difficult to 

 prune than Xo. 2. At the 

 winter season if it present 

 the appearance here shown, it 

 would be well to cut it in 

 very short, and thus divide it. 

 To cut it long so as to bear 

 is, indeed, long pruning, and 

 cannot be recommended here. 

 As an extension it is, however, 

 excellent. 



4. The Gross Shoot {fig. 4), 

 Gourmand, Dubreuil. — This is 

 a dangerous class, and it should 

 never be permitted to appear 

 except as an extension. It is 

 represented of the ordinary 

 thickness, but frequently be- 

 comes very much stronger. 

 From it are developed laterals 

 of summer »rowth, which are 

 called "antidpes" (literally 

 premature shoots), by the 

 French. These summer la- 

 terals are the bugbear of 

 very close pruners, for on 

 their careful management or 

 otherwise depends the character of their work. We notice 

 that the leaf-buds A are generally not so prominent as in 



class 1 ; and on the laterals, in the case of that on the right, 

 the leaf-buds are double and well placed at the insertion of 

 the lateral on the parent shoot, and therefore no blank space 

 will appear when these laterals are transformed into fruit- 

 bearers. In the case of the left- 

 hand lateral, however, these 

 two leaf-buds are suspiciously 

 distant, and the dormant bud 

 visible at the base cannot be 

 depended on, and if not de- 

 veloped during the ensuing 

 season probably never will be. 

 This is a peculiarity of the 

 Peach, therefore the right- 

 hand lateral is of much 

 greater value than the left- 

 hand one. At E E we notice 

 feeble blossom-buds, with a 

 terminal bud, c. These la- 

 terals vary considerably in 

 size, of course. In mid-France 

 they become independent 

 shoots and able to bear, 

 owing to the growth made 

 under those favourable con- 

 ditions. No. 4 should be 

 checked whenever not need- 

 ed. It is known by its erect 

 character, darker colour, and 

 well-developed leaves, and 

 should be stopped to about 

 2 inches when it has made 

 about 6 inches of growth. It 

 will then divide into two 

 weaker shoots of some class 

 or other, generally of No. 1, 

 and become manageable. The 

 antidpes, or premature shoots, 

 require a chapter to them- 

 selves, and will be further dis- 

 cussed when we come to close- 

 pruning. 



These four classes have 

 much in common, a^ No. 1 

 easily passes into No. 4 ac- 

 cording to circumstances. 

 No. 2 is the highest organisa- 

 tion of course, and No. 3 a 

 class only of a mixed charac- 

 ter. More need not be said at 

 present on this head, as these shoots wiU have to be referred 

 to continually. — T. C. Bbehaut, Richmond- Rouse, G-uernsey. 



WOEK FOE THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN' GAUD'EN. 



The present dry weather is particularly favourable for 

 the destruction of weeds, and it should be remembered that 

 the destroying of one weed now is destroying what would 

 shortly be the parent of many. The :ame may be said of 

 insects. Beans, earth-up the early crops, and where they 

 were put in the ground in the end of last year they should 

 be dug between with a fork. Make another sowing. Cauli- 

 flowers, raise the hand-glasses and loosen the soil between 

 the plants, and afterwards give them a good so.aking with 

 manure water. Cucumbei-s, the young plants intended for 

 the ridges to be stopped and repotted if they require it. 

 Sprinkle the plants in the frames early in the afternoon, 

 and shut up. Water liberally round the sides of the frame 

 when the heat of the day dries the soU. Lettuces, water 

 the early ones if necessai-y, and plant out some of the plants 

 raised in the frames. Melons, the plants very often" show 

 one or two fruit at an early period of their growth, these 

 should be picked off, as they would prevent the sweUing off 

 of others. The vines should first nearly fill the frames, 

 and then several fruit should be impregnated .at one time. 

 Give air and water according to the state of the weather 

 and the heat of the bed. Peas, make another sowing of two 



or three different kinds, according to the consumption 

 Potatoes, hoe between the early crops as soon as they are 

 above gi'ound. "Where circumstances have prevented the 

 planting of the main crops, it should be done at the earliest 

 opportunity. Scarlet Runners, the first crop may now be 

 sown in boxes, which may be placed in any of the forcing- 

 houses. Turnips, where there are iiny growing in frames 

 they will require watering in dry weather, which, will pre- 

 vent them from becoming hot and hard. Spinach, make 

 another sowing, attend to the thinning of the early crops. 

 Continue to trench into the soil all refuse vegetable matter, 

 as advised in former calendars, a practice which cannot be 

 too much insisted on. It is better to do so at once than to 

 lay it in heaps in the rubbish-ground, where it not only 

 loses its most fertilising properties, but poisons the air by 

 the gases evolved in decomposition : whereas if trenched into 

 the ground at once, and more particularly if accompanied 

 by a portion of charred material, the greater portion of the 

 ammonia will be retained in the soil, till again taken up in 

 combination with water by the roots of the plants. 

 PBtrrr garden. 

 Sea that plantations of Strawberries are free from weeds. 

 Those plants that have been forced may now be planted in 



