502 



Garden and Forest. 



[October 15, 1890. 



Grapes. — An exhibition of grapes was held at the same 

 time with the Dahlias, and a conference of growers on the 

 day following that given up to the Dahlia fanciers. There 

 was a fair display of fruit, but, probably owing to the absence 

 of a prize list, there were fewer exhibitors than might have 

 been expected. The conference was remarkable for a paper 

 on " The Enemies of the Vine," read by Mr. R. D. Blackmore, 

 the eminent novelist, author of " Lorna Doone " and a market 

 gardener besides. Mr. Blackmore deals with all the pests, 

 insect and other, of the Vine except Phylloxera. This scourge 

 is known to be present in more than one collection of Vines 

 in England. So far the only really effectual remedy appears 

 to be grafting as practiced in France, especially in Bordeaux. 

 The stocks employed are the American Vines known as 

 Jacquez and Herbemont and the variety riparia of V. cor- 

 difolia. Upon these the best French kinds are grafted, with, 

 so far, perfect success — the stocks proving impervious to the 

 attacks of the Phylloxera. A report upon this subject from Her 

 Majesty 'sConsulatBordeauxlastyearstated that " the regenera- 

 tion of vineyards in which the EuropeanVine had been extirpated 

 by the Phylloxera has been effected, as was pointed out would 

 probably be the case, by means of European Vines grafted on 

 American stocks. Direct production from American stocks 

 has, fortunately for the wine-consumer, been abandoned as 

 hopeless." If the most terrible scourge that has ever attacked 

 the Vine industry is overcome by means of grafting it ought 

 to convince those people who declared against grafting of the 

 absurdity of their sweeping assertion that " grafting is a delu- 

 sion, a snare and a makeshift." 



Papers on the subjects of "Soils and Manures for the Vine," 

 and on " Packing Grapes," were read, the former by Mr. W. 

 Thomson, of Cloverfords, whose work on the "Cultivation of 

 the Vine " has done so much to make Grape-growing in En- 

 gland what it now is. These papers will be published in the 

 Journal of the Society, and to any one interested in the sub- 

 jects upon which they treat they may be cordially recom- 

 mended as the latest utterances of the masters of the art of 

 Grape production in England. 



London. 



W. Watson. 



Cultural Department. 



1 



An Alpine Border. 

 T is often difficult to find the right place in the garden for 

 small hardy plants, odd bulbs, or pieces of things which 

 require some special attention, or which it is desired to keep 

 under observation. Such things planted in an ordinary border 

 are apt to drag out a miserable existence even if they survive 

 at all. They are usually overshadowed and starved out by 

 their vigorous neighbors, or, if they happily secure a share 

 of sunlight, insufficient drainage on the level is the cause of 

 serious losses, for many of the smaller plants are especially im- 

 patient of water at the crowns. In ample grounds there is 

 usually little difficulty in arranging a suitable rockery, where 

 such plants may be made perfectly at home and most of the 

 conditions for their successful culture provided. In narrower 

 quarters, however, rockeries are seldom, if ever, satisfactory, 

 for, while beauty must often give way to utility, it is well to 

 avoid unsightly fixtures, and it is scarcely possible to arrange 

 a rockery whose utility will be so great as to overbalance its 

 incongruity in an ordinary small, flat garden. It occurred to 

 me last spring while studying the problem of growing various 

 alpines that a special border devoted to small things might 

 be arranged which would prove satisfactory to a fair extent, 

 and, at least, always interesting to the cultivator. Perhaps 

 "An Attempt at an Alpine Border" would more correctly head 

 these notes, for my planting as yet has been tentative. A 

 long, narrow grass strip, which divided a hardy border from 

 the main path, was turned under, and the ground was suitably 

 prepared. On each side of this narrow border a row of stones 

 was placed, raising it a few inches above the path and hardy 

 border. Where any special soil is required it is supplied, and, 

 when necessary, special elevations made or extra stones added 

 to the soil. Plants of Arabis, Androsaces, Drabas, Aubrietias, 

 Poppies (nudicaule), Myosotis, Anemones, etc., seem at 

 present well established, while various labels mark where, 

 in the spring, may be, expected some of the charming visitors 

 of the early year. It is not expected that in such a border one 

 can grow all small alpines (neither can most of us manage 

 many of them in a rockery), but this simple suggestion is, per- 

 haps, of use to some small grower with a fancy for the dainties 

 of the floral world, or who wishes a place that will give a 

 hospitable welcome to odd small plants and bulbs. Such a 

 border is inclined to dryness, no water remains long on the 

 crowns, and, if it is not handsome, it is not obtrusive. 



The loss of a turf border has caused no regret, it being- 

 always a source of care and expense and rather commonplace. 

 Perhaps as the various creeping plants project over the edge 

 of the walk they will agreeably break the straight line of an 

 ugly path. 



Elizabeth, N.J. J.N.G. 



Rose Notes. 

 THE proper method of staking Roses which are planted out 

 *■ for winter blooming makes an interesting subject of study 

 at this time of the year, when the plants are, or at least should 

 be, in such a condition as to require some support. And 

 careless or clumsy staking detracts greatly from the appearance 

 of a Rose-house, besides being quite unnecessary; for neat 

 stakes are readily procurable and at very moderate outlay. 

 Tlje shallow benches, so much favored for Rose-growing, do 

 not contain a sufficient depth of soil to support the long stakes 

 that are needed, and therefore many growers have adopted 

 the plan of running a stout wire in line with the row of plants 

 from one end of the bench to the other, the wire being three 

 to three and a half feet above the soil, and the tops of the 

 stakes are fastened to this wire. By means of this device 

 quite slender stakes may be used — for instance, a square stake 

 of cedar or poplar or chestnut half an inch in diameter will 

 answer the purpose very well when supported at the top as 

 described. 



This makes quite a neat arrangement ; but a less conspicu- 

 ous one for the same purpose is composed entirely of wires, 

 by using parallel upper and lower wires and replacing the 

 stakes with upright wires fastened to each of the horizontal 

 ones. The latter method offers the least possible obstruction 

 to the light and also to the force of water when syringing, and 

 provides a strong and durable trellis. 



Another method of supporting Roses was recently suggested 

 by a practical grower — namely, to stretch strips of wire netting 

 above the bench and supported by a vertical wire at each side 

 of the bench. The shoots of the Roses are to be tied to the 

 netting, and it is expected that the plants will thus be spread 

 out more, and, in consequence, receive more light and air 

 than When tied in the usual manner. The netting alluded to 

 was that made from galvanized wire, and of large mesh. 



The often repeated injunction that Roses require plenty of 

 fresh air should be well observed at this time of the year, so 

 that all the growth the plants make is firm and solid, and, 

 therefore, fit to withstand the strain of continued winter 

 flowering. At the same time strong draughts should at all 

 times be avoided, as mildew is sure to follow. A little arti- 

 ficial heat is generally found necessary at night in this latitude 

 by the 1st of October, but this must be regulated by the 

 weather, and some seasons it may be needed before this time ; 

 but the firing should be regulated carefully, for too much heat 

 will do quite as much harm as too little. At this season of the 

 year the advantages of steam heating for certain purposes 

 become apparent, as the temperature may be more easily 

 regulated under this system than with hot water, and this is 

 nowhere more noticeable than in the Rose-houses. 



Black mildew, or " black spot," as it is generally known, is . 

 now appearing on those varieties for which it shows a special 

 preference, and may be increased rapidly by one over-water- 

 ing, and this makes it essential that the watering should be 

 done with caution at all times. A reliable remedy for this 

 much-dreaded Fungus would beagreat boon to Rose-growers, 

 but thus far a real specific has not been discovered, though 

 many have been tried. The most effective treatment seems 

 to be the picking off of the affected leaves and the removal of 

 all decayed leaves from the surface of the soil. This does not 

 cure infected plants, but it helps to check the spread of the 

 Fungus to a certain extent. 



In the matter of varieties there seems to be but little change 

 among commercial growers this season, most of the sorts 

 favored last year remaining standard for this winter's trade. 

 Among the newer varieties, Duchess of Albany and Madame 

 Hoste are far in the lead in popularity, and both of these ex- 

 cellent sorts have been largely planted. Pierre Guillot finds 

 favor with some large growers, though this Rose does not 

 seem to grow freely in all soils. The flowers keep well after 

 being cut, however, and when well grown have a fine color. 



The general verdict seems to be that W. F. Bennett, though 

 a beautiful flower when in good condition, does not pay the 

 grower because it shows too many short-stemmed flowers, 

 which do not sell well, and though there are many small lots 

 of this variety to be seen, yet a hundred-foot bench of it is 

 now a comparative rarity. Souvenir of Wootton does not 

 seem to have superseded American Beauty, as was hoped at 

 the time of its introduction, but still it is reported in some 



