450 



JODBNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



t December 5, 1872. 



from others, that the Potatoes in the district were sadly dis- 

 eased, the season having been dull and wet, spoiling much hay 

 in the fields, and also injuring Corn. At the same time the 

 grass in the fields was nearly a foot high, and rank luxuriant 

 herbage was met with at every turning. 



In the district generally there was the same deficiency of 

 Apples complained of elsewhere, while only some of the common 

 Pears bore a partial crop, and that very often on trees that 

 would appear to have outlived several generations of the 

 gatherers. The orchards generally were in grass ; even newly- 

 planted ones were often on grass land. One of considerable 

 extent and much promise near to Hindlip was pointed out to 

 me as having only been planted the year before — or, rather, 

 the stocks were so planted, and the trees grafted during the 

 past spring. This is different practice from that adopted in 

 most other counties, where the grafted tree is planted at once ; 

 and even if grass land be the ultimate intention of the culti- 

 vator, it is nevertheless thought advisable to keep the ground 

 in tillage for a time. Of the merits of the two systems it is 

 not my intention here to enter upon, but the ample rainfall 

 of the west may make it unwise to keep so large a breadth in 

 tillage cultivation, whereas the more eastern cultivator can 

 keep down the weeds at a considerably less cost, and perhaps 

 also benefit him by some ground crop. In all likelihood, there- 

 fore, a close and impartial investigation of the two systems 

 will reveal the fact of their being both right. 



Before taking leave of Hindlip I was introduced to a feature 

 of the place which I know to be scarcely less interesting to the 

 Editors of our Journal than the report on Pears and Peaches, 

 and that was the poultry-yard. This department I found was 

 under the especial patronage of Mrs. Allsopp, and certainly 

 finer Brahmas, Cochins, and some other breeds it would be 

 difficult to find. Some neatly arranged pens, or rather houses ,_ 

 had been erected for their accommodation, with ample yards ;' 

 and now and then the privilege of a run-out seemed to agree 

 with the happy family there congregated. It must be observed 

 there was no crowding, each kind having a domicile to itself. 

 All seemed to be well taken care of, and I have no doubt gave 

 the worthy lady many an hour's unalloyed pleasure in witness- 

 ing their stately forms and portly development. I believe 

 their well-doing is in some degree due to my old friend Air. 

 Martin, whose opinion in such matters was very wisely sought 

 by Mrs. Allsopp, and the result can hardly be otherwise than 

 satisfactory. 



After a hearty shake of the hand with Mr. Moffat, to whose 

 courtesy I was indebted for all I saw and heard at Hindlip, 

 I had reluctantly to turn my back on a place possessing so 

 much that is interesting and deserving of especial notice. — 

 J. Bobson. 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 

 The " Gardeners' Year-Book," just issued, contains the 

 most complete report on Gardes Peas which has ever been 

 published. 



Noi only in England, but over all southern Europe 



the rainfall has been most excessive this autumn. Near 

 Malton, in Yorkshire, the returns for the last three months 

 show an aggregate of more than 14 inches — namely, 5.40 in 

 September, 4.50 in October, and 4.20 in November. 



We are requested to state that the subscription list 



to the Erost Testimonial is about to close. 



One bunch of the Duke oe Buccleuch Grape, which 



was ripe in July, was left uncut in a vinery of the Tweed 

 Vineyard to see how long it would keep. On the 27th of 

 November it was hanging in a state quite presentable at the 

 table. 



■ Having spent two hours in the biscuit factory, the 



Japanese Ambassadors next drove to see another Beading 

 speciality. At Messrs. Sutton's new warehouse in the Market 

 Place there was a Show of Boots, produced from the seeds 

 sold by these well-known seedsmen. The roots, which came 

 from aE parts of the United Kingdom, were exhibited in a 

 warehouse nearly M)0 feet long and 40 feet wide ; and if the 

 size of the roots go on increasing, even this show-room will 

 soon be too smaUto contain them. Though Nature is prodigal 

 enough in their own land, the Ambassadors were astonished at 

 the proportions reached by some of our tubers in a soil which, 

 in their short experience of our climate, has seemed so un- 

 blessed by sunshine. Turnips there are in Japan, but when 

 Mr. Martin Sutton pointed out some of the Champion Swedes, 

 their Excellencies could hardly be persuaded that they had not 



before them some monstrous growth of abnormal size, hardly 

 akin to the root which was familiar to them. Twenty-five of 

 these Champion Swedes weigh 384 lbs. The Mangold Wurtzel 

 and the Kohl Eabi seemed new to the Ambassadors, who took 

 special interest in the roots grown on Her Majesty's farms at 

 Windsor, Osborne, and Bushy Park, and in those shown by 

 the Prince of Wales. They may have been impressed, too, by 

 the republican impartiality of the judges, who awarded prizes 

 to tenant farmers and to nobles, but gave to the Eoyal roots 

 no greater praise than commendation. The Potatoes in so 

 many kinds were viewed with interest, but over and oyer again 

 the eyes of the visitors were turned to the towering bulk of the 

 bigger roots. There were Drumhead Cabbages weighing 60 lbs. 

 each. Twelve Long Bed Mangolds, grown by the Marquis of 

 Ailesbury, weighed 489 lbs., or an average of more than 40 lbs. 

 a-piece. There were Mammoth Mangolds with yellow flesh, 

 rich in saccharine matter ; and the Chief Ambassador expressed 

 a desire to enrich the national agriculture with some of these 

 roots, as well as with the Champion Swedes, which would vary 

 the cultivation of the white-fleshed Turnips already grown in 

 Japan. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN garden. 



In this department continue to trench, manure, and, where 

 necessary, to drain the soil, preparatory to its being cropped in 

 spring ; and where the crop is to be a comparatively permanent 

 one, as Asparagus, Globe ArticlioJces, or Sea-kale, I must again 

 insist on thorough preparation as the only guarantee of future 

 profit and satisfaction. Where walks require gravelling, now is 

 a favourable time for doing it, as the late rains have loosened the 

 surface of the walks, and they can be picked up with ease pre- 

 vious to the new gravel being laid on. In gathering Brussels 

 Sprouts I do not cut out the crowns until spring. Some do so 

 with the hope of inducing them to throw out more sprouts than 

 with it ; but I think it injurious at this season, as it admits mois- 

 ture, which, in the event of severe frost, proves fatal to the whole 

 stem. Stir the surface of the soil amongst Cauliflower plants 

 under hand-lights, and sprinkle some charcoal dust amongst 

 them; it will sweeten the surface of the soil, and prevent a 

 green growth on the surface which stagnant air is apt to produce. 

 In gathering Spinach see that it is done with care. Some lay 

 hold of the whole plant and strip off a handful, which not only 

 removes the leaves which are mature and fit to gather, but 

 bruises and tears the young and immature ones as well, and pre- 

 vents their further progress : each leaf ought to be removed in-- 

 dividually. It may be said that these are small matters, and for 

 the same reason they are likely to be overlooked, and require 

 pointing-out. Let all salads, Lettuces, Mushroom beds, &c, 

 have a due amount of protection, and if frozen suddenly do not 

 permit them to be uncovered, but rather apply more litter to 

 keep them frozen. 



fruit garden. 



Prune Gooseberries, Currants, and Raspberries in open weather. 

 When the frost sets in, lay a coat of manure, say 3 inches, round 

 every bush. When the Gooseberry and Currant shrubs are olp 

 and covered with moss, a good dredging of powdered quic klim e, 

 put on when the bark is moist, will entirely destroy it, rendering 

 the stems clean and the bark healthy. Finish all planting of 

 fruit trees, if possible, early in the month. Get on with nailing 

 as fast as possible, excepting Peaches and Apricots for the 

 present. Prune Filbert trees and standard Pear and Apple trees, 

 and where the latter have made an over-luxuriant growth dig a 

 trench 2 feet from the stem all round, and cut some of the 

 strongest roots, particularly any tap roots that may exist ; this 

 will induce a more fruitful condition. Of course the distance 

 from the stem must be more or less according to the age and size 

 of the tree ; the larger the tree the further it will be necessary 

 to keep from the stem in making the trench. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



This is the most fitting period to proceed with all alterations 

 which may be deemed necessary ; these should be prosecuted 

 now with vigour, and in order that such may not be done to the 

 detriment of the general business, extra men should be procured. 

 This will, when rightly understood, be less costly in the end, 

 although apparently more so at the first. I am strongly in- 

 clined to think there is no greater pleasure afforded by the 

 cultivation of flowers than that which the florist feels when 

 viewing the first few opening blossoms of spring, with their 

 cheering promises of summer and its innumerable pleasures. 

 Those flowers which first make their appearance after the long 

 and dreary winter are decidedly those which afford most lively 

 gratification. The greatest want in a spring garden is a class 

 of plants of some height for the back of the borders; there 

 are but few, however, which are available for this purpose. The 

 principal are the Mezereon (Daphne' Mezereum), a lovely shrub, 

 whose sweet flowers, like those of the Almond, " bloom on a 



