320 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



May 21, 1898 



Chat about Hardy Fruits. 



Every department of a garden possesses rapidly increasing attractions 

 at this time of year, but perhaps none is so lull of interest as that devoted 

 to hardy fruits. The flowering period is the season of promise and hope. 

 When our trees are advancing to an abundant blossoming, we have the 

 prospect before us of a later stage in their career when they may be 

 laden with welcome fruits. We have besides, however, the present 

 enjoyment of their beauties ; and of all deciduous shrubs and trees in 

 cultivation few can rival and none excel the floral charms of our cherries, 

 plums, pears, and apples in a favourable season. Many writers have 

 advocated planting a few specimens of the best varieties in the ornamental 

 portions of gardens ; some amateurs and practitioners have really done 

 this with most satisfactory results, but it is not a plan that can be carried 

 out under all conditions and circumstances. Still in shrubberies forming 

 boundaries to lawns I have seen select fruit trees introduced with admir- 

 able effect, short-lived as their charms may be. 



Fruit growers may experience all the pleasures of the most advanced 

 aesthetic person in observing the masses of snowy or rose-tinted blossoms 

 adorning their trees, but the economic aspect influences their meditations 

 even more strongly. The satisfaction derived from contemplating an 

 abundant display of flowers is greatly moderated, when sunny days 

 followed by clear nights and sharp frosts, at the blossoming period 

 threaten the partial or entire destruction of all hope as to fruit crops. 

 Much will then depend upon the moisture or aridity of the atmosphere, 

 and within the past week or two the frosts experienced would no 

 doubt have proved more injurious had the air been less dry. For- 

 tunately in a large plantation under my care, and in others that I have 

 seen in the district where plums and damsons have been flowering with 

 exceptional freedom, little damage has been observed, although the night 

 temperature has fallen six degrees below freezing point (Faherenheit) on 

 several occasions. Pears also seem to be safe up to the present time ; 

 apples are scarcely sufficiently advanced to suffer, and gooseberries have 

 so far escaped the injury that so seriously reduced the crop last year. 

 But the bulk of our apples have yet to flower ; so that there is much 

 anxiety yet in store for us before the ordeal is passed. 



The greatest trouble to the naturally energetic is to feel powerless to 



avert an approaching evil ; but the question has often occurred to me 



whether we could not adopt some workable system of protecting the 



blossom of fruit trees in the open. In the case of large standard or 



orchard trees it is impracticable to employ any material as a covering, 



though in plantations of dwarf trees and bush fruits it is quite possible, 



the only difficulties being the expense incurred in material and labour. 



For large plantations this, however, is quite prohibitive, as though a 



very slight substance in the way of netting, tiffany, or canvas will suffice 



to check the radiation, yet to cover an acre effectively with protective 



material secured to posts at suitable distances would cost at least £20. 



As it is only exposed for a short time the material might last for five 



years, but there is always the risk of storms not only destroying sucb an 



arrangement, but seriously damaging the trees at the same time. 



Perhaps, therefore, it is not sui prising that little has been done in this 



direction beyond protecting small plots in gardens or compact plantations 

 of bush fruits. 



Another method of affording protection from frost has been exten- 

 sively tried in France and the United States, namely, " smoking," or 

 " smudging " as it is termed. This has given good results, and the cost 

 is not prohibitive if well managed ; it therefore might be worthy 

 of more trials than the plan has yet had in Britain. The principle 

 upon which its success depends is that a dense smoke diffused 



depends is mat a 

 over a plantation checks the radiation, and consequently reduces the 

 danger of sharp frosts. That risks can be thus lessened is beyond 

 question, but it is necessary in the first place that the plantation occupies 

 a level piece of land, not a slope or the bottom of a valley ; secondly, the 

 atmosphere should be calm, but this usually is the case when severe 

 frosts are imminent, and obviously the practice would be of little service 

 in a strong wind ; thirdly, some substance must be used that will produce 



a dense smoke slowly and continuously, in order that it may be evenly 

 diffused. 



In the French vineyards several patent compositions are in general 

 use, and syndicates have been formed amongst neighbouring growers, so 

 that combined action and mutual protection may be afforded. By this 

 means the cost has been reduced to a few pence per acre, and the results 

 have given general satisfaction. Any substance that will consume slowly 

 and emit a thick, heavy smoke will answer the purpose ; damp wood 

 mixed with partly-dried grass, damp hay, straw, and leaves have been 

 employed, while common petroleum, coal-gas oils, tar, and sawdust have 

 been used similarly. Sawdust and tar make a good mixture in the pro- 

 portion by bulk of three or four parts of sawdust to one of tar, but damp 

 wood or rubbish generally is convenient for many, though it may not be 

 so etiectwe. One gallon of tar and three times the quantity of sawdust 



conditions. This statement seems to be in conflict with the su^cf 

 the end of the preceding paragraph, but they are not so m^f^i *! 

 as appears at first sight. In the evaporation of water heat is aKKf 

 and in the condensation of such vapour the heat is again liberated ^ • 

 therefore possible to evaporate water by artificial means in sufficient 

 quantities that the vapour, being condensed on cold surfaces mav rele 

 enough heat to prevent the temperature falling below freezing S 

 within a limited area. Then we have the protection sought • bu! if 

 frost occurs at all, it appears that the danger is increased by the moist tn» 

 present. There is the question to consider, too, whether the greatest 

 injury to blossom results from the actual freezing or sudden thawing 

 When frosty nights are followed by clear, sunny mornings, the injury to 

 fruit blossom is generally greatest on the eastern sides of plantations if 

 fully exposed to the sun, and I have observed it also on the eastern sides 

 of individual trees. At such times the presence of moisture may be an 

 advantage in preventing rapid thawing, just as we syringe frozen plants 

 in pots and shade them from the sun rays until the thawing has been 

 gradually effected. 



Many have advocated the extensive planting of the Cherry Plum or 

 Myrobalan (Prunus cerasifera\ for hedges, a purpose for which its 

 rapid growth undoubtedly renders it suitable. If planted thickly, it 

 forms a dense hedge in a few years, and though not so effectual a pro- 

 tection from cattle as thorn, it yet suffices for all ordinary boundaries 

 and is a first-rate wind-break. Unfortunately, its precocious leafing 

 renders it liable to severe injury, and this year the leaves were expanding 

 in January, the flowers also being open in February, and the result is 

 that nearly the whole of the foliage has been destroyed by frost. This 

 does not occur every season, but the flowers rarely escape some injury. 

 The myrobalan in this respect resembles the Japanese plums, that are so 

 much in favour in America. Here the flowers are produced so early 

 that in the few seasons I have tried them they have all been destroyed 



by frosts. 



A. M. 



Dwarfed Chrysanthemums. 



In the manipulation of chrysanthemums with a view to secure ;i 

 dwarf busby growth, it has apparently of late been considered a modern 

 practice to strike cuttings in May and June. But will you permit me to 

 state that this method has been known and adopted to my knowledge 

 for more than half a century ? Consequently the sun is not diffusing its 

 life-giving powers on any new innovation or up-to-date practice. If the 

 present generation of cultivators were familiar with the modes of cultiva- 

 tion practised by those designated the " old school " of gardeners they 

 would understand that the practice of striking the cuttings, as has been 

 advised, to secure good healthy, dwarf plants, has been in force ever 

 since the Autumn Queen was introduced into this country. 



I reported a paper read on the subject in 1846, and the report 

 appeared in the Florist Journal^ at that time conducted by my old 

 highly-esteemed friend, the late Mr. Robert Piant. Herein it was advo- 

 cated that May, and even later, where dwarf plants was the wished-for 

 object, was the very best time for successfully striking cuttings for that 

 purpose. It is recorded in the early writings that the Chinese even 

 adopted the practice, as also the thinning the buds, so as to obtain large 

 flowers ; and this practice was thoroughly advocated in the paper 

 alluded to and by one of the members present on that occasion in 

 speaking to the subject. The report as it then appeared I have still 

 in my possession. 



There were other methods of propagating the chrysanthemum. Some 

 amateurs especially used to increase their stock by suckers or by divid- 

 ing the plants ; others by layering. I well remember that in August, 

 1843, being thus engaged to prepare a large stock of plants for conser- 

 vatory decoration, and very fine plants they made, blooming most pro- 

 fusely during the whole of the dull months of autumn and early winter. 

 The stock plants had been specially prepared by being planted in a fine 

 open piece of ground in a sunny situation. I am now referring to the 

 preparation of plants for a large winter-garden-like conservatory. 

 It should be understood, however, that at the period I refer to garden 

 appliances and glasshouses were in many respects like angel's visits, com- 

 paratively "few and far between." So the "old school " gardener had 

 to husband his resources in a very methodical manner, hence those witn 

 small accommodation for flowering plants during the autumnal months 

 were in a measure compelled to produce plants as small as possibly 

 convenient, so as not to injure specimens of a more permanent ana 

 valuable description. 



Very many, as well as the writer, made it an annual practice to strike 

 cuttings of chiysanthemums after the showing of the bloom buds on trie 

 growths. These made interesting and very useful plants for mixing 

 with primulas, &c, and added considerably to the cheerfulness ot tnc 

 greenhouse and conservatory. At the time I refer to, gardeners uerc 



w.ll, >f properly mixed and attended provide a dense smoke for eight S e and ~nservatory. At the time I refer M»>" - 



hours, small quantities being ignited ,n Succession. The actual cost of S ad r anta e es , of the present Renerat.on b ut I »e 



the material does not exceed id., and there is only thelabourto consider, &^L^ n hyt ,n th _ e °ld as well as the new ^^SffSmot- 



t?.*?JK5 Se . nOU f ' as a man or a boy can attend to a large number SUSSSL if many marvellouS d ^£* J? hVjSS 



r»»-h« . , 6 ments in the healthy and the mind- invigorating science ot horcicuuu 



inm, f Wt . enal j™™, not be P laced near enou S h to trees t0 "use 

 n order ,h t ^ P^uced, and the " smudges ■ need constant attention 



necess\rv TK C c y may T u b , Um to ° quickly, spraying them with water if 



the con. 



radi£ti«« . imi^j \ • , ? va P ora *ion of water assists in lessening the 



When th* atm«c«u • t,on and se cure immunity from frost, 

 recorded vet fHSTTS VCry dr * *e lowest temperatures are usually 

 SSMff^^":^"«S experience of growers, as it certainly 



moist In other words ShSrtS . ^ , CSU,tS ^ "£5 air is 

 three degrees will do K a 'V S P^ saturated a frost of two or 



egeeswui u, more harm than five or six degrees under drier 



and floriculture. 



Lewishnm 



George Fry 



again 

 has br 



this 



fcxorchorda grandiflora. 



^ 0tl ' ?u th °, U ? h k was ver y mucn cnecKea uy uic x» w . -. t . the m0< 



the weather and been a mass of bloom for some time past ; indeed, it is the mos 

 conspicuous hardy shrub now in bloom. It will grow In almost any so il or sim 

 lion ; we have it in sunny positions as well as north and west «pects, "d » 

 obtain a succession of bloom which is most useful , in some cases the * ro £JJ£J 

 growing ,n more than nine inches of soil. Planting should be done m October, 



