274 



JOURNAL OF HOETICTJLTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB. 



[ Outober 4, 1K4. 



This never goes out of order, and the sash can be lifted off 

 whenever it may be necessary to do so. 



Passing by other pits where there were thousands of seed- 

 ling Hollyhocks and dwarf Eoses, and merely glancing 

 at two tiffany-houses, which are invaluable for shade and 

 coolness in summer, we came to the nursery quarters, where 

 we had intended to make a lengthened stay, but from want 

 of time were compelled to content ourselves with little more 

 than a run through. This was the more to be regretted, as 

 Mr. Paul has bestowed much attention on trees and shrub3 

 and their adaptation to particular soils and positions so as 

 to produce effect in planting. Among Tews were a lot of 

 well-grown and compact plants of the Golden, and a kind in- 

 termediate between the Irish and the common, with a fine 

 pyramidal form and very dark almost black foliage. There 

 were, besides, interesting collections of English Hollies, Ivies, 

 and quantities of choice Conifers — as Thuja gigantea, plicata, 

 and Lobbi, Thujopsis, "Wellingtonias, Cupressus Lawsoniana, 

 Piceas Nordmanniana, nobilis, and pinsapo, various Cedars, 

 &c. ; in addition to quarters of Eoses, altogether five or six 

 acres in extent, containing multitudes of standard Eoses, 

 where Gloire de Dijon and Mrs. Bosanquet were blooming 

 finely, while Dr. Lindley was remarkable for its extraordinary 

 vigour and the size of the leaves, many of them 3| inches 

 in length. The last-named, although not actually in bloom, 

 was covered with flower-buds. A bed of the variegated Bho- 

 dodendron ponticum was very conspicuous by its well-marked 

 yellow variegated foliage ; and the variegated Acer negundo 

 was another invaluable plant for lighting up shrubberies and 

 relieving the monotony of green which is so often com- 

 plained of. 



In. the fruit-tree quarters, besides an extensive general 

 stock, were large quantities of pyramid Pear trees of the best 

 varieties, and what was alone worth a journey to Waltham 

 to see, dwarf Apple trees on the Paradise stock, which though 

 not more than 2 feet in height were bearing a most ex- 

 traordinary crop, the fruits in many instances touching 

 each other on the bearing-shoots. Several of these dwarfs 

 had as many as thirty-seven Apples on them, not small but 

 good medium-sized fruit, and where the variety was naturally 

 large the fruit were so likewise, though not so numerous. 

 These dwarf bush Apple trees were only 2A years from the 

 graft, and were planted in rows 2J feet apart, and at not 

 more than 18 inches from each other in the row. Assuming, 

 however, that each tree were allowed 5 square feet of ground, 

 an acre would hold 8712 bush Apple trees, and if these only 

 bore fifteen fruit a-piece, the produce would be 130,680 fruit, 

 or say 725 bushels, the value of which on the ground would 

 be upwards of .£100. Where bulk of produce for sale is the 

 object, it may not be desirable to confine the trees to the 

 same dimensions and space allowed them in the nursery- 

 rows, but from what has been stated it is evident that a 

 very large produce can be obtained from a small area, and 

 that in all probability such trees would prove remunerative 

 if planted on an extensive scale, whilst for small gardens 

 they must be invaluable. There are many persons who could 

 have at most but half a dozen standard trees, and many more 

 who have only room for one, and tastes differ, varieties do 

 not all ripen at the same season, most fruits that are good 

 for the dessert are not fit for the kitchen ; but by planting 

 these dwarfs a long succession and diversity of flavour and 

 appearance can be secured. 



There is then something to be seen, something to be 

 learnt, at Waltham Cross at this season as at others. 



AMERICAN GEAPE-GEOWEES. 

 A new beginner in Grape-growing must "keep cool:" as 

 in all divisions of the sons of men the newest converts are 

 the most unreasonable zealots, — he will find among Grape- 

 growers those who give him the most trouble are they who 

 have had the least experience. In one of our last year's 

 volumes, our correspondent " Phineas Chewce " — vinous 

 juice, we presume, changed to vinegar — happily hits off this 

 peculiarity of the neophyte, by supposing him to recommend 

 not only planting a cat at the roots of the Grapes he would 

 have muskcat, but it must also be planted with its " tail to 

 the north pole." The house must be of such a shape, such 

 a size, such an angle, and such an aspect. None other will 

 do at all. The plants must be set so, trained so, pinched so, 



and pruned so ; and so and so must be the hourly attention,, 

 daily practice, and yearly rule. The crop of your cold vinery 

 will give you the " cold shoulder," unless you heat it ; and 

 it will put on airs, unless you air it every day. So the story 

 goes. 



" The first thing hi does when hi goes hinto my vinery hof 

 hahevening," once said a good gardener to us, "hi pulls hoff 

 my hair." But " I should pull off my hair if I did," replies 

 an equally good one ; "I lower my sash, or open my ventila- 

 tors in April, and let the air stay on all the year." 



It is the fault of novices that they cannot distinguish 

 between essentials and non-essentials. All these minute 

 matters are well enough if you want superior Grapes ; but 

 good Grapes and plenty of them can be had easily and 

 cheaply ; and no matter how small a garden lot may be, 

 one of the first improvements, after laying out the garden 

 proper, we should recommend to be a cold grapery. — 

 {American Gardener's Monthly.) 



CULTIVATION OF THE MELON. 



{Continued from page 194.) 



S <b 3 2 J O 



XO 



Fig. 12. 



Fig. 12 is a span-roofed house, with a path in the centre 

 and two beds on each side. The house is heated by six four- 

 inch hot-water pipes, two just by the side walls within the 

 house all round, and one on both sides of the path. Bottom. 

 heat is communicated by two hot-water pipes, one under 

 each of the beds, in the first instance to a tank, o, a. The 

 tanks are covered with slates, and on them a foot of compost 

 is placed for the roots to run in. The plants are trained to 

 a trellis. The ends of the house should be respectively north, 

 and south. A house of this description is admirably adapted 

 for producing early Melons and Cucumbers. 



2 2. 



-«? 



Fig. 13. 



Fig. 13. This is simply a house with a half-span-roof. 

 Bottom heat is supplied by two four-inch hot-water pipes to 

 a chamber, a, and top heat by two pipes in front, and one to 

 the left of the path in the centre of the house, b, is a bed 

 of soil. There is a trellis at c, and a bed at back, d, which 

 is very useful for plants, yet of no value for Melons. Bottom 

 heat is furnished to it by a hot-water pipe, e, covered with. 

 rubble. — G. Abbey. 



{To le continued.) 



