December 13, 1877. ] 



JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



451 



might break the branches if allowed to remain. Havo any of 

 your correspondents met with a similar occurrence — viz., trees 

 growing from seed without any protection ? — Feed. Walton, 

 St. GutKbert's, Albrighton. 



NOTES ABOUT GLADIOLI. 



Hitherto we have not seen the Gladioli grown to that 

 extent which on its merits it deserves to be. The great 

 destruction to the oorms by disease has necessitated their 

 being sold at a prioe which has put them beyond the reach of 

 many who would gladly grow them. We are told about and 

 read of the Tulip mania which once existed, when the bulbs 

 were purchased at fabulous prices. Fortunately things are 

 now changed, and a common-sense price is all the. public will 

 go to. Our endeavours towards making the Gladioli still 

 more generally th9 popular flower it deserves to be renders it 

 incumbent that this disease, which so devastatingly attacks it, 

 ought to command our closest observance. Once secure for 

 the Gladiolus a more hardy constitution, then for this noble 

 flower we might safely predict a bright future. One day, or 

 rather one year, we are delighted with magnificent spikes and 

 of the finest form and colour ; the time comes round again, 

 and it may be that we may reap again, but more than probable 

 for our much-prized beauty we look and look in vain. It has 

 gone without so much as leaving a small offset behind. 



I have frequently thought that hybridisers were running too 

 much after flowers of high quality, and that constitution very 

 apparently was almost if not altogether ignored. We all know 

 how hardy is the old BrenchleyenBis, and also that fine soft 

 sweet flower of much better class, old Penelope. Were I to 

 commence to raise seedlings, this latter crossed with others 

 of higher colour and of the best constitution I could procure 

 would be those I would breed from. Regarding Penelope, who- 

 ever yet saw a well-grown spike diegraoe a stand ? It shows 

 a greater breadth of bloom than have its compeers, and I have 

 seen ladies pick it out admiringly when staged with others at 

 fifty times its cost. When we secure varieties of equally good 

 quality also as hardy, then nurserymen will be able to supply 

 bulbs at half the present average price, and the public will 

 materially increase their purchases. 



In the way of finding a remedy I ask, Where does the 

 disease first commenoe its attack ? Many will say in the corm. 

 My decided opinion is that the diseased bulb is only the effect 

 of the disease, which I contend first attacks and then destroys 

 all or many of the roots. The first outward sign is the 

 foliage turning to a sickly yellow. Now, as soon as you like 

 after first noticing this, let the plant be taken up and it will be 

 found that the points of the roots are also sickly and yellow, 

 and soft and mushy. Certainly we have the diseased roots 

 before we have the diseased corm, or at least I have always 

 found it so, and for an amateur I have grown a large collection. 

 Of grubs the wireworm is occasionally a pest by its eating 

 through the heart of the spike just above the corm, but per- 

 haps I suffered less this way than some by using liberally 

 nitrate of soda. 



Regarding suitable soil, arather Btifi loam Ithink suits them 

 best, and after experimenting I at last used only new cow manure, 

 both dug-in and for mulching during summer. Of varieties my 

 practice was to grow a few of each of the best-named sorts and 

 then to grow largely of purchased seedlings. The French seed- 

 lings were no good. I may or may not be correct in my sur- 

 mising, but I have many times thought that the stock of named 

 varieties was largely made up from seedlings ; and with child 

 BO like parent, and hundreds of parents with no children raised 

 by the ordinary way of offsets, there is all the more empty bags 

 to select from into which a corm of an ordinary good flower can 

 be placed, and for which a fair price can be obtained. Have 

 you never noticed from half a dozen corms having flowers much 

 alike but not the same? With the Messrs. Kelway's seedlings 

 at 20s. a hundred I was much better pleased. I had from them 

 many very good exhibition flowers. The corms and spikes 

 generally were of good size, and with many judges size goes a 

 great way. I daresay I have had thousands of corms raised 

 by Mr. Banks of Deal, and without in the least colouring 

 from many of them, but flowers of finer or better quality 

 I never saw. A few years ago I exhibited rather largely (not 

 these last three years), and once had the pleasure, at the 

 International Show held at Manchester, of drawing the atten- 

 tion of " D., Deal," to my stand of thirty-Bix spikes nearly all 

 out from Mr. Banks's seedlings, and which very nearly contained 

 every flower I could command. My turn was second, Messrs. 



Kelway first, and a Scotch firm third. Mr. Bonks, it may be 

 well to note to save so worthy a gentleman trouble, sells none 

 of his corms retail ; he disposes of them to the trade. Those 

 wishing to plant Gladioli in their borders, I strongly recom- 

 mend them, save Brencbleyensis, not to buy cheap named 

 sorts, but to buy seedlings from any of our English raisers; 

 and those wishing in a cheap way to grow for exhibition i 

 recommend them to follow the plan I followed. 



Just another thing I would draw attention to. All flowers 

 look best when exhibited on green ; over and above some fresh 

 green foliage of their own behind each spike, let them stand 

 deep amidst Asparagus foliage stuck amongst the water in the 

 tubes. — J. Withekspoon, Red Rose Vineries, Chcster-le-Street. 



PROTECTING CHEKRIES. 



Few who have had experience among Cherries have not at 

 times been much concerned about how to protect them from 

 birds. This accomplished, other difficulties come within the 

 grasp of the experienced cultivator. Explicit and practical as 

 " A Northern Gardener " made the espalier Bystem in the 

 Journal of 22nd ult., yet while many may have their arrange- 

 ments so complete, with others the system detailed may be 

 almost impossible ; and excellent as the plan is they cannot 

 carry it out. 



In my own experience I have seen Cherries kept from the 

 pets (for so they are here), no difficulty being in the way, only 

 a scarcity of old herring nets. These nets can be procured 

 from fishermen when they have done with them for a nominal 

 price, their width being from 12 to 14 feet. I once had under 

 my care a number of treeB planted against a brick wall about 

 12 feet higb, which were cloBeiy netted with some of the above- 

 described nets as soon as the fruit began colouring. The nets 

 were looped on tacks at the top, ends, and bottom. When we 

 wanted to gather a dish we had only to remove a few loops along 

 the bottom, go under the net, and pick away without the least 

 inconvenience. I have seen the trees so loaded with fruit 

 that they would have charmed the heart of any gardener who 

 had employers who were fond of Cherries. The variety wag 

 May Duke. 



On the other hand standards are not so easily protected 

 from blackbirds, thrushes, and jackdaws, none of which will 

 take any affront except shooting at them with intent. An 

 orehardiat close by here has a few very large Cherry trees, 

 as large indeed as forest trees ; just as the fruit oommences 

 colouring he makes it a point to have a watch on about 3 a.m. 

 In the open side of the approach to the trees he has a soonce 

 erected, so as the watch can advanoe without being observed 

 by the birds. Gun in hand the fmt enemy seen is fired at, 

 and if not detained is so frightened is not likely to return for 

 some time without much oaution. Provision is made for the 

 cautious birds by placing a bare branch on the top of one of 

 the trees near the Cherries, so as the timid birds may alight 

 first on the bare or naked branch, where it will have the best 

 view from, and while it is looking about it the man in the 

 sconce can fire with impunity as far as the Cherries are con- 

 cerned. This plan may at first Bight appear a difficult one, 

 Btill in the long run it is better to give a little attention when 

 the fruit is ripening than having the dissatisfaction of Beeing 

 a crop destroyed after a whole year's care and attention.— 

 B. G., Go. Down. 



THE OLD ROSES. 



Yes ; as Mr. Witherspoon says let us have some Moss Boses. I 

 would not say a word to damage the reputation of the beautiful 

 Roses that we now hear and see so much of ; they are worthy 

 of all the praises lavished upon them, but by all means let us 

 have some Moss Roses. It is to be regretted that those charm- 

 ing old favourites of the past have fallen into comparative 

 obscurity, and are fast becoming " things of the past." The 

 bards of all nations have sung their praises with all the glow- 

 ing eloquence that is lavished on the present race of new 

 Roses. I maintain that in point of beauty none can surpass 

 our glorious old Moss Roees. What language can do justice 

 to the plant designated the " daughter of heaven," the "glory 

 of spring," and the " ornament of the earth ?" No other 

 hardy flower gives such beauty combined with such fragrance 

 as the Rose. 



One of the choicest of Roees (old though it be) is the Pro- 

 vins, Rosa provincial , said by some to be from France, while 

 others say Holland is its native home ;] others again assert that 



