March 19 



1898. 



GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



PEAC 



on Open Walls 



A Few Vi 



Notes 



the introduction of so much glass into our gardens, it is doubtful The exact time for vine planting will always be an open question and 



. . , . - . ^ a ^ m the majority of instances large growers have but little choice in the 



matter ; the canes must be put in either as the houses are ready or 

 when the canes can be obtained. The spring, however, is the season 



if that care is taken to grow peaches out of doors as there used to be in 

 the days of our forefathers. There are so many other things demanding 

 attention that it is almost impossible to devote time to all, therefore some 

 must be omitted or neglected. We know that the same number of 

 varieties were not in cultivation years ago as there are at the present 

 time, but whether they were hardier or not is an open question. We 

 have now a long list of varieties all of which are said to be good, at 

 least the descriptions given would lead those unacquainted with them to 

 think so. There are, however, some of but little value, either as regards 

 flavour or fruitfulness when grown against walls, more especially in cold 

 districts, as they are too tender. The south of England is not altogether 

 the most favoured part for the cultivation of peaches, though in some 

 places they do fairly well. The great drawback here is the time they 



* .„ « — — ~ Here some of the varieties were bursting 



I noticed some 



commence to grow in spring 



into flower ere the shoots had been fastened to the walls 

 of the blossoms showing colour as early as February 10, and no wonder 

 that they receive a check later on when in full bloom. This is not only 

 the case with the early varieties, but many of the late kinds are also 

 showing flower. Some of what are termed first-class varieties are of no 

 use whatever in this district. 



Taking Barrington as an example, its fruit is large and of a good 

 colour, but as regards flavour quite worthless, as it is both woolly and 

 juiceless. Dr. Hogg is also only fit for stewing. The tree is also too tender 

 for outside cultivation, as it is usually attacked with mildew in the most 

 favourable seasons. Lord Palmerston is a pretty peach when well grown, 

 and that is the only recommendation it possesses. Early Silver, though 

 a fine peach under glass, is of no use on the open walls, and the same 

 may be said of several of the newer kinds. Alexander does fairly well 

 here, though in some seasons the foliage blisters terribly. Last season 

 it was attacked in such a manner that very few leaves were to be seen 

 until after midsummer. Bellegarde is a good peach ; the tree is hardy 

 and most prolific, nor is it so subject to mildew as some others. The 

 fruit is of medium size, quite large enough for all ordinary purposes ; the 

 colour is good and flavour excellent. On the open walls we seldom fail 

 to have a crop. Condor is also a good variety, producing fruits both 

 large and of excellent flavour, but the tree is not very hardy. Grosse 

 Mignonne is a good peach for outdoor cultivation ; the tree is hardy and 

 prolific, and the fruit both good in size and quality. Prince of Wales 

 usually does well, and produces some fine fruit of most exquisite flavour. 

 Royal George and Violette Hative both deserve a place on account of 

 their fine flavour and productiveness. The best of the late varieties with 

 me is Sea Eagle ; this is both large and of good quality, and though not 

 so hardy as some, usually produces a crop. Warb 



when most are planted, and this on account of the tomato crop which is 

 grown in the houses the first year or two. One thing I notice very 

 particularly, and that is, as vines are planted and, of course, started so 

 do they expect to be made ready for starting in following seasons 

 borne vines under my own care were planted early in the first month of 

 last year, the tomato plants being also ready ; gentle fire heat was given at 

 once, and the result now is that starting this set the second season at a 

 similar date is no trouble at all. Again, vines planted in the autumn 

 up to October take a good hold of the soil, and are of the best for early 

 forcing. Late spring-planted canes, though generally doing well, have 

 much to contend with, the chief drawback being the forwardness of 

 the tops, which are far in advance of the roots, while the latter are 

 not yet established in the new border. 



With judicious culture year by year, a week or two can be gained if 

 vines are required for any specially early crops, and the same in a degree 

 applies to the late varieties. Thus, if a late house is well heated, it can 

 well be started a fortnight later ; for instance, a Gros Colmar house 

 with four pipes has to have fire heat by March x. A similar house 

 with six rows can be started two or even three weeks later, and then 

 catch up with the first. Such items are worth consideration, more par- 

 ticularly if the vines are established and fires have to be specially 

 lighted for each house. Shutting up houses according to the weather, 

 even during the resting period, will also be an aid to prompt starting.' 

 What all growers look for is a regular break, and also a strong one, 

 as, given this, fruiting will be satisfactory. We have the advantage of 

 inside borders, and the roots are thus not only at command, but also 

 ready for work in fact, I begin to question if these roots are ever dormant, 

 as I have particularly noticed after Christmas pruning there is a con- 

 tinuous bud swelling. 



What is technically known as " vine breaking," or, in other words, 

 bud bursting, is always a very anxious time for growers, more particularly 

 with young vines and those started out of season. No doubt if we could 

 always wait for a natural start, the vines would be both regular in 

 this respect and also stronger, but against this would be the extreme 

 lateness of colouring and ripening of grapes. I have made many little 

 experiments this year to induce a regular break, and there is no doubt the 

 more horizontal and nearer the ground and pipes the rods are the better 

 the break. Not content with this, I have also reversed the rods more 

 than once, and feel satisfied I have gained something. Rods tied down 

 in the usual way will have a certain number of the buds on the under 



* « m « « ■ m A _ 



must give both sides an equal chance of sun, &c. Of course, I am now 

 dealing with young two-year canes. Older rods do break freely, and 

 not only this, but also appear to start at the same time year by year. 



Bottesford Nurseries, Notts. Stephen Castle, F.R.H.S. 



uoiaen ttagie, in favourable seasons, are of fair quality and are the latest side ; to reverse the rods and thus bring them to the front for a chanee 

 varieties we grow. Exquisite is of poor flavour here. " * * 



We defer pruning and nailing as long as possible to prevent the 

 flowers from becoming too forward, and when the trees are finally 

 fastened to the walls, netting is at once put over them to ward off the 

 tKJ*- Wlt ?- US ar( ; often ver y ^vere just as the trees are in bloom. 

 raVri^n ? i u Sed i ,S I 3 " 0 - 11 aS the fishermen h ave on the Cornish coast for 



Sf & ward off j*veral degrees of frost It is, however, after the 

 trees have gone out of flower that the most mischief is usually done for 



n ^l^ 1 ? be C0lc ! east winds duri "S May, the leaves blisL to such 



Notes from Ireland. 



th^fh? at mOS K° f th ? m fal1 off > and the t^es become so crippled 



£2^7^ 15 ^ ^ nC u Cd \ efore a fair * rowth is made. If le 

 EKSSnwf d6d hereby the cold winds are warded off, the 

 whef a L in P ; ™a ? ^ W ^P^ ^owth will follow ; but 

 cWhl* ? •' 1,1 : matured shoot is made, this is so sappy as not to be 

 one wonH iT mn *l' and the conse q"ence is but few flowerbuds, and only 

 that Th. i aS the te / minal - When trees reach this state it is seldom 



maL r7 PI ? dUCe u g0 ° d fruit > and the best P lan is to take them up £ 

 are f ° r ° th f S * Cold winds are not the only cause of failure We 



takeToTke"^ 1 ! 01 ? T *!} A ^ ld be la ' d in > that it is a mis- 



system that is h f • - nd f.° / 0rt , h 5 th , at trees * rown on the extended 



are made, eive 



ripens nrone'rlv ^I ^T*' * Z for such wood seldom 



is a tendenrv' in us ually sets but few flower buds. Where there 



bes^lanis^^ make . over -l™ant growths, the 



be dSi^A . to t sto P them when three or four inches long, the sap will then 



**™ ££ ^?^T^ . Iat r al i/ rOWth from such "h°ot n s 



may be stoDDedT&.J ^ ° hanCe - 14 should again take the lead, this 



inches If Sne or two nf ^ ? ha$ aU ? in , ed a length of eighteen 

 hr^u one or two of the top buds from * 



P event ?hfK S ?°V ld be en couraged, as tl 



For mild weather, accompanied with abundance of rain and wind, the 

 winter of 1897-S should break all records. Up till now we have had but 

 one slight frost, and that early in autumn. I notice in several places 

 geraniums that have been out in window-boxes all the winter are still in 

 flower, and save where the foliage is damaged by wind, they are as fresh 

 as in summer. Snowdrops were in full flower on January 1, and are now 

 quite over, while they are succeeded by the crocuses and daffodils. I do 

 not remember seeing the latter in flower during the second week in 

 February before this season. Brompton and the intermediate stocks have 

 been flowering continually throughout the winter, as also have wall- 

 flowers and polyanthus, with daisies, forget-me-nots, &c. Roadsides and 

 hedgrows are gay with daisies and primroses ; while the pleasure grounds 

 have been ablaze with colour since early in November by reason of 

 Rhododendron Nobleanum. We shall in all probability suffer for this 

 mild weather during the present and following months ; I have too fre- 

 quently noticed after an exceptionally mild winter, we have sharp and 

 frequent frosts in this locality at the time when fruit trees, &c, are coming 



When 



Z^^JSfiJP JWl 'ed to^r^irS good 



of them then become in^, ? CUl i y * ke6pm} ' ^ roots shallow > as many 



have the Wders X e Ztr^ ' S ' h ° Wever ' & ood P racti£ " e ^ 



cron ,,k;a™ , whe . re P e ach trees are growing occumed with an ^rU, 



With young trees 



into blossom. 



The season of 1897 appears to have been a bad one for onions, as, 

 save in one notable instance, everyone is complaining of the crop ; to 

 inches. If bne nr u™~i~7^'7~ 'u'T r "~ ~" t * lllcu a *engm 01 eignteen have the bulbs so small was bad enough, but that these should 

 break, these qWm k P bu T from such shoots should afterwards fail to keep is worse. The few apples and pears that came to perfec- 



Prevent the hnd?^l^ enC °r raged > take the sap and so tion in this neighbourhood also kept very badly. Snow's Winter White, 



Early Penzance, and Adam's Early White broccoli are now rendering a 

 good account of themselves ; Penzance, I consider, is by far the best of 

 this trio. I noticed a splendid plot of Ellam's Early spring cabbage 

 at Summerville recently, from which, Mr. Ellicott had been cutting 

 fine heads since January 15. As far as my knowledge goes, this 

 is a record-breaker for early cabbage. The seed was sown about July 20, 



r, ^ UclI1 nf > rl ^_ , « u , ^ . . the resulting plants being afterwards planted in a large square in the open 



ev *ery second vear = , ? k 1. y autumn so that the r °ots may be lifted garden, and not on a sheltered border. After this, I am more firmly than 

 of lifting, the soil W S? u - g ht J nearer t0 . the surface. In the operation ever convinced that Ellam's is difficult to beat as an early cabbage. In 

 vegetables to eodo stIrred t0 sufficient depth to allow the roots of your issue of the 19th ult. "Lux" gives the opinion of his faithful hench- 



on the peach trees tn ' an . abl ? ldan ? e of >' oun S rootlets will be formed man, the immortal " Peter," concerning seed potatos ; well, last season I 

 Reaches in the ft J mam tam them m a healthy flourishing condition, planted about half an acre of large Champions without cutting the sets 



attention That Uc en ne S Iected when they require constant * " " ! 1 " ' 1 " " 



l^akes an attack m t°W paS ? ed °H t of flower - A P his then 



leaves to curl up and ^ lS U ° { Pt ln check soon causes the 



H. C. Prinsep 



in any way, the culture, otherwise, was as usual, but when the crop was 

 lifted there was not any difference to be seen between them and the result 

 from the smaller, or cut sets. After that test I am no longer an advocate 



of large seed potatos. 



GlenstaL R. Welt.er. 



