September 1, 1870. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



161 



berries picked with the calyx adhering will always carry better 

 and be less liable to decay than if oarelessly palled off without 

 this appendage. And so with Cherries also, as the cavities 

 made by parting with their stalks are liable to engender speedy 

 decay. Neither do they present so fine an appearance on the 

 table, or in the fruit baskets of our market gardeners as when 

 temptingly displayed, each with its stalk attached. The fore- 

 going remarks in relation to the proper time for gathering 

 fruits are equally applicable to Grapes. These generally colour 

 long before they are mature ; and thus many a novice in fruit 

 culture frequently forms an unjust opinion of his varieties 

 simply from testing unripe specimens. Grapes should always 

 be severed from the Vine with strong scissors or trimming- 

 shears, and never twisted or broken off. — (Horticulturist ) 



MELONS IN A GROUND VINERY. 



After raising some plants in a warm orchard house, I placed 

 them under a ground vinery, without any bottom heat. There 

 were three sorts, all sown on the same day — Windsor Prize, 

 Beechwood (for which I have to thank you), and Achapesnor- 

 rischer. Windsor ripened on the 6th of August, and Beech- 

 wood on the 13th. Both sorts are now finished. The third 

 sort, which is said to grow out of do.ors on a ridge, has not yet 

 ripened ; so under glass it seems to have no advantage over 

 sorts which are reputed more tender. In former years I have 

 ripened it in warmth, and found it of good flavour, though 

 coarse in appearance. 



An American correspondent of yours once stated that no 

 soil succeeded so well as virgin forest mould. This, I presume, 

 means leaf mould and sand. Now, in England we prefer stiffer 

 soil: so, to decide the question, I filled a Sea-kale pot with an 

 imitation of forest mould mixed with pieces of broken brick, 

 as better than stones, while a similar pot was filled with a 

 mixture of the same soil with loam. Into each pot was put a 

 plant of Windsor Prize. The plant in light soil was always 

 thirsty, and produced but one fruit weighing 2 lbs. 2 ozs. The 

 heaviest fruit on the other weighed 1 lbs. 14 ozs. 



In cutting open a Beechwood to-day, and very excellent it 

 was, I could not help contemplating the enormous number of 

 its seeds, yet most of these seeds were probably fertilised, and 

 only by a touch of a male flower to the stigma. What, then, 

 must not be the minuteness of each grain of pollen, and how 

 marvellous its active power! — G. S. 



P.S. — Though the ground-vinery system succeeds perfectly 

 in fine summers like 1368 and 1870, it did not succeed in 1869. 



MY GARDEN PLUM ORCHARD. 



So many of my friends who have seen my little Plum trees 

 in growth have written to know more about their different qua- 

 lities, that I have thought it best to send a few notes to " our 

 Journal," so that all may read, as it were, from one letter. At 

 the same time I have thought it might interest others unknown 

 to me, and who are about to plant. I consider my fruit trees 

 in many cases as trees of ornament as well as utility, and there- 

 fore plant many of them among my shrubs, where they all thrive 

 exceedingly well, and not only are beautiful in the spring when 

 in bloom, but give a rich colouring effect in the autumn when 

 in fruit. But there are some at least that I would not advise 

 to be so planted, and they are all the Green Gage tribe, for the 

 bullfinches will assuredly peck out all the bloom buds and spoil 

 the trees. There are, however, many others, Plums as well as 

 Pears, which do well ; and at this time of the year, when flowers 

 are scarce, my fruit trees are the ehief attraction to my visitors. 

 I do not pretend to go into the minutira of every kind, but to 

 give a general outline as to their qualities as grown here. 

 Those wishing to know more I would advise to consult that 

 ■very excellent work, Dr. Hogg's "Fruit Manual," a book which 

 no pomologist ought to be without. As I attend to all my 

 Plum trees entirely myself, I have the opportunity of judging 

 pretty correctly as to their qualities as regards the summor- 

 prtming system, brought into notice by Mr. Rivers, of Saw- 

 bridgeworth, and to whom amateur fruit-growers are indebted 

 for much instruction, knowledge, and pleasure. 



I give below a few notes of some of the sorts of Plums which 

 have already ripened with me, and if thought worth while I 

 will send more as others come to maturity, as I have many yet 

 in full growth, some of which are especial favourites of almost 

 every one, though grown under different circumstances than as 

 out-door pyramids and bushes. I may here remark that, as a 



rule, I find the G^ge tribe less adapted for pyramids than bushes, 

 as some are difficult to keep in form. Several of my trees did 

 marvels this year. In the way of crop I have one little bush 

 of the Mirabelle Pium, just 1 foot high, that has twenty-one 

 Plums on it ; I merely retained the quantity just to see how 

 many it would carry. 



Early Mirabelle. — This Plum was the first of my earlies to 

 ripen. It is a small round fruit of a light greenish yellow, 

 slightly tinted with red on the sunny side, and covered with a 

 thin grey bloom ; the flavour, if I may use the expression, is 

 bright, sweet, and delicious. I gathered the firBt fruit on July 

 22nd. It is an excellent bearer, and makes a good pyramid or 

 bush. 



Early Rii-crs is a first-class variety as regards cropping. For 

 the last two years the quantity has been wonderful. The fruit 

 is of a deep purple, covered with a thick grey bloom. It is 

 oval in form, and when suffered to hang long on the tree has a 

 fine vinous flavour. It makes an excellent pyramid cr bush ; 

 the fruit was ripe July 29th. 



St. Etienne very much resembles the Early Mirabelle in 

 form and colour, but is rather larger. It does not hang quite 

 so well, nor is it of quite so good a flavour. It makes a good 

 pyramid. The fruit was gathered on July 30th. 



Early Orleans is a second-class Plum, an excellent bearer, 

 but better adapted for a bush than a pyramid. The fruit is 

 too well known to need description. 



Denniston's Superb is a fine, large, rich Plum, of a bright 

 yellow colour, slightly tinted with purplish red, and spotted on 

 the sunny side. It is vigorous in growth, but its branches are 

 apt to die from no seeming cause. It makes a large pyramid, 

 but is rather a sby bearer. 



Red Morocco is a fine, large, culinary Plum of a deep bright 

 red colour, almost purple ; in form it is a long oval, and rather 

 more narrow at one end. The flesh is firm, and it preserves 

 well. It is best kept as a bush. It was gathered August 10th. 



De Montfort is a very rich, sugary, delicious Plum, above 

 the medium size, oval in shape, and of a deep purple, streaked 

 with a lighter colour and brown. It is a very fair bearer, and 

 is well worth growing either as a pyramid or bush. It was 

 gathered August loth. If allowed to hang until it shrivels it 

 makes a perfect sweetmeat. 



Prince Englebert make3 a noble pyramid, and, when the fruit 

 on it is ripe, has a fine appearance, it being of deep purple 

 colour, covered with a beautiful blue bloom. The fruit is large, 

 long oval in form, and when quite ripe is delicious. It is 

 strong in constitution, an excellent bearer, and is well worth 

 cultivating. It was gathered August ISth. 



The Orleans is a well-known Plum. It bears well and makes 

 a good pyramid or bush. It was gathered August 26th. 



Peach Plum. — This is large and delicious, of excellent quality, 

 but with me it is a bad grower, dying-back oontinually, although 

 a good bearer. I am afraid I must give it up for that reason. 



Miraoelle is a small round Plum, of a deep bright yellow 

 colour covered with dots. It is of good flavour, though rather 

 mealy at times. It is an excellent bearer, makes a Very 

 compact and healthy pyramid, and might be grown as an 

 ornamental tree if considered needful. With most it is a great 

 favourite. 



Of these I would select for pyramid growth, the Early Mira- 

 belle, Early Rivers, De Montfort, Prince Englebert, Orleans, 

 and Mirabelle. — Habeison Weie, Weirleigh, Kent. 



METROPOLITAN SOCIETY'S EXHIBITION AT 



THE CRYSTAL PALACE. 

 I am glad to say, that notwithstanding the very unfavourable 

 character of the season for florists' flowers, there is every pro- 

 bability of a good exhibition. The following gentlemen have 

 kindly consented to act as Judges : — For Dahlias : Mr. Charles 

 Turner, Slough ; Mr. Richard Dean, Ealing ; Mr. W. Holmes, 

 Hackney. For Hollyhocks and Gladiolus : Mr. John Standish, 

 Ascot ; Mr. J. Fraser, Lea Bridge ; Mr. Einghorn, Richmond. 

 For Asters, Verbenas, and Roses : The Rev. Cleaver Peach, 

 Appleton-le-Street ; Mr. Lidgard, Hammersmith ; and Mr. 

 Cutbush, Highgate. For baskets of cut flowers : W. Thomson, 

 Esq., Penge. — D., Deal. 



Messes. Weeks & Co.'s Patent Duplex Boilee. — We are 

 informed that this is now in regular work at W. Leaf, Esq.'s, 

 Park Hill, Streaiham. If it fulfils all that is stated relative to 



