1086 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



COMMONPLACE NOTES. 

 By the Secretary and Superintendent. 



Border for Peach Trees. 



From time to time we enter on these Notes — what to professional 

 gardeners may seem very elementary questions — and we do so on the 

 principle that what has been of use to one Fellow may very probably 

 also be of use to others. Thus a Fellow writes inquiring for the names 

 of " good early Peaches for forcing," and also for instruction " how to 

 make a bed for them, the natural soil being boulder clay." 



The best early Peaches for forcing are probably ' Amsden June,' 

 ' Hales 's Early,' 1 Duchess of Cornwall,' and 1 Condor.' Let no amateur 

 be persuaded to have ' Alexander ' or 1 Waterloo ' for forcing, although 

 they are a week, possibly ten days, earlier than ' Hales's Early,' for they 

 are difficult forcers, so inclined to throw their blossom buds before they 

 open. It can be done by introducing them early and advancing the 

 temperature very, very slowly and gradually ; but it requires more care 

 and skill and attention than any save quite a professional can give. 



To make a bed or border take out all the soil to a depth of three feet, 

 and at the bottom lay a good clean drain, with plenty of fall and a free 

 outlet. This in such a soil is a sine qua non. Then lay in a depth of 

 nine inches of coarse rough drainage, consisting of broken-up hard bricks 

 or suchlike, and upon this place a layer of turf cut thick, with the 

 grass downwards. Fill up with good fibrous loam, inclining rather to the 

 heavy than to the light, such as the top spit of an old pasture, mixing a 

 small barrowful of fine rubble or mortar or plaster rubbish with each 

 cartload of loam. The loam should be comparatively dry when it is put 

 in and should be trodden very firm, but never tread wet soil. No 

 manure, either chemical or stable, should be used for two or three years 

 at least. 



Early Flowering Bulbs on Banks. 



In all gardens early flowers are most welcome, giving their bright 

 shades of colour at a more or less dull season of the year ; and tbere are 

 many odd corners of the lawn and shrubbery, which are more or less neg- 

 lected, which could be made one of the most attractive parts of the garden 

 in early spring by planting Snowdrops, Crocuses, Scillas, Daffodils, &c. 

 Again how well these bulbs thrive and blossom on sloping banks of grass, 

 giving a long succession of flower, and brightening the appearance of the 

 garden immensely ! But although they answer so well on grassy slopes 

 the most gorgeous effect we have ever seen was obtained by planting such 

 bulbs amongst a groundwork of Ivy, where they had been established for 

 years. And so contented were they with their position that the Crocus 

 flowers almost hid the Ivy, and by the time Crocuses were over Daffodils 

 were opening their buds. The Ivy must, of course, be kept cut close 



