312 



Garden and Forest. 



[June 25, 1890. 



atmosphere, because when allowed to become too dry it is 

 liable to injury from red spider. Among the large-leaved spe- 

 cies, F. macrophylla, the Moreton Bay Fig is prominent, its 

 large cordate leaves giving quite a tropical effect in the con- 

 servatory, and also being very effective for out-door decoration 

 in the summer. It is a strong grower, and soon makes a large 

 specimen. 



Ficus dealbata is another notably good large-growing spe- 

 cies, and has leaves of somewhat similar shape to those of F. 

 elastica, but dark green on the upper side, while the under 

 surface is thickly clothed with pure white tomentum. It was 

 introduced from South America a number of years since, but 

 has not become very common, possibly because it does not 

 root as readily as some other species. 



Ficus Porteana also deserves a place among fine foliage 

 plants, having oblong, sharp-pointed leaves from one foot to 

 eighteen inches in length and from four to five inches in 

 breadth, and slightly serrate on the margins. The leaves of 

 this species are not quite so tough and strong as those of F. 

 elastica, but they have substance enough to render it very 

 useful for conservatory work. It is a native of the Philippine 

 Islands, and produces its finest foliage when grown in a warm 

 house. 



In the scandent section of the Fig family are to be found 

 some of the most useful greenhouse climbers, prominent 

 among which are F. barbata and F. stipulata [F. repens), the 

 first named being much the stronger of the two, and producing 

 dark green, cordate leaves about three inches in length, and 

 more or less clothed with brown hairs. This species, like F. 

 stipulata, is especially useful for covering a wall in a warm 

 house, as it adheres very firmly, and, when given congenial 

 treatment, soon covers such a locality with a most pleasing 

 green mantle. F. stipulata, and its variety, Minima, are not so 

 particular as to locality and treatment, and may be put to a 

 variety of uses besides that referred to above, being readily 

 propagated and of rapid growth. 



The various kinds of Ficus, in general, are very clean plants 

 and not subject to the attacks of insects, unless much neg- 

 lected. They are propagated by means of cuttings made 

 from firm wood, many of the sorts rooting best from single 

 eye-cuttings, which should be firmly planted in small pots and 

 tied up to a small stake, so as to prevent them from falling out 

 of the pot on account of the weight of the leaf. 



And while they root best in a close frame, yet enough ven- 

 tilation must be given at night to prevent the accumulation of 

 much moisture on the cuttings, else they are liable to damp 

 off. Sandy loam, slightly enriched with old manure, will be 

 found a satisfactory compost, and with reasonable care hand- 

 some plants may soon be obtained. 



Holmesburg, Pa. W. H. Taplltl. 



Crown and Root-Grafts. 



T AM glad to see this distinction clearly made by Professor 

 ■*■ Bailey and others at the Nurserymen's Meeting. Any one 

 who grows his Apple-seedlings for grafting, and grows them 

 well, knows that they will be too long to be used entire, so that 

 the claim often made that trees are grown on " whole roots " 

 is misleading. The roots must be shortened and side-roots 

 removed. The question then remains, whether we shall use 

 any more of each root than the crown section ? I have been 

 testing the matter for many years, and carefully noting re- 

 sults. There are elements of great uncertainty in these tests, 

 unless much care is used and sufficient time allowed for ob- 

 servation. Even if the crown is best, crown-cuts are not all 

 equally good ; cions are not all equally good ; the soil is not 

 always uniform, and other disturbing conditions are possible. 



My experience with Apple-seedlings has been that if plump, 

 vigorous seed is used, and properly planted in good and suit- 

 able soil, yearling roots are better than older ones. We then 

 have yearling wood in the stock joined to yearling wood in the 

 cion ; the size of the stocks is more nearly that of the cions, 

 often allowing the bark to join all around, and the wood of the 

 stock is softer and more easily cut. Two-year stocks are 

 either too large or of inferior growth and quality. 



In our climate it has been found a wise plan to plant our 

 grafts deeply, so that but one bud of the cion is above ground 

 — using cions of three buds or more. In this way, from many 

 varieties we can get good roots from above the point of union. 

 When sufficient care is taken in all points I have never seen 

 any marked difference in growth, in nursery or in orchard, 

 between the first and second cuts of well grown and carefully 

 selected roots which could be charged positively to the roots. 

 It must be remembered that we are apt, while at work, to put 

 the larger cions on the top cut, leaving the smaller for the 

 second cut, so that the completed grafts of the latter are some- 



what less in size. But, even allowing all that is required here, 

 I am not able to say that alternate rows of first and second cut 

 grafts have ever, in my nursery, shown sufficient difference at 

 the end of the third season to be discriminated with any cer- 

 tainty. So I must conclude that, with good work all around, 

 it is allowable to use the second cut. But with careless work 

 and unsatisfactory material the result might not be the same. 



As to the preference for budding over root-grafting, I find 

 many buyers who object to the crook in a budded tree and 

 prefer the straighter root-graft. But aside from this, where 

 iron-clads are demanded, we want none of the stock above 

 ground or near the surface, as must be the case with budded 

 trees. 



I can see no reason why trees root-grafted should have roots 

 on one side only. It may happen that an occasional tree will 

 show that peculiarity, but when this occurs so very seldom 

 who can be sure of the cause? I should be most apt to regard 

 it as a peculiarity of the seedling stock. Neither have I noted 

 that the roots of root-grafts are more pronged. Observing 

 nurserymen soon discover that nearly every variety has its 

 own style of root, which is determined by the cion, so that 

 many varieties can, when taken up at three years old, be 

 known by their roots alone. The spadesmen notice this very 

 quickly when digging, and have a ready anathema for certain 

 varieties with a vigorous, deep-going root system. 

 . Newport, vt. T. H. Hoskins. 



Notes About Blackberries. 



TT'ITTATINNY I had thrown out as too tender, although 

 ■*•*- when I did get a good crop it was a very excellent and 

 paying berry. But it did not stay thrown out, so I have adopted 

 the plan of bending the canes over and holding them down in 

 winter with stones or boards. The result is excellent crops on 

 a small scale. The fruit is large and glossy, and good if well 

 ripened. But there must be some of the caution used that 

 was needful in the case of Lawton. It must be well ripened 

 before being picked. 



Wachmett Thornless is not thornless, and is not a berry 

 with a single point in its favor for general planting. There 

 may be localities where it is valuable. 



Wilson Junior is only an improved Wilson, and very tender 

 indeed. It will come through if covered with snow; but even 

 if bent down and held close to the ground it will kill to the 

 roots during open winters. It is worthless in a northern 

 latitude. 



New Rochelle or Lawton is also worthless, except south of 

 New York. Dealers have a habit of calling all improved 

 Blackberries Lawtons. We cannot as yet get any rational dis- 

 tinctions made in this regard. 



Taylor is a real acquisition. The size is above medium and 

 the quality very good. The growth is strong and it is among 

 the most productive. It is later than Snyder. 



Snyder is a much better and larger berry than was supposed 

 for a long time. Cut the canes back and select a cool, strong 

 soil and it is a prize. On poor soil and where easily affected 

 by dry weather it is too small to be of any value. In quality 

 Snyder is really very good, not sour and not sweet. 



Early Cluster and Crystal White, with me, are tender and 

 otherwise valueless. 



Erie I hold in the very highest esteem. It has gone through 

 three winters unharmed, and gives a superb crop of very 

 large and very excellent fruit. The color is a peculiar jet 

 black, unlike that of Lawton, with which it has sometimes been 

 confused. I believe a large amount of swindling has been 

 done in sending out Lawton for Erie. 



Minnewaski, so far as I have tested it, proves to have all the 

 good qualities claimed for it — a large, handsome and early 

 berry, and a cane not so strong as some, but entirely hardy. 



Agawam is another excellent sort, not so large as Erie or 

 Minnewaski, but with me an excellent fruit and a hardy cane. 

 It bears grand crops, and no one is ever cheated by it into 

 biting an acrid berry that he cannot swallow with honest re- 

 gard for his stomach. 



I would select as a list for a home garden Erie, Agawam, 

 Taylor, Minnewaski. Confined to two sorts, I should perhaps 

 take Erie and Agawam ; but should not like to miss Taylor. 



For market the same list might still hold good, with Snyder 

 added. The Blackberry has been improved far more than is 

 generally known. The Kittatinny caused great disappoint- 

 ment, and led many growers to discard Blackberries entirely 

 from their grounds. 



I grow with cultivation for two or three years, but let the 

 plants ultimately take possession of the soil and care for them- 

 selves. They do best let alone. Cut out the dead canes, and 



