44 



THE FLORIST ANb POM0L0GIST. 



border. It is an ascertained truth, that the roots of all plants are active in proportion to the 

 number of mouths they possess ; and that this power of multiplying these small fibrous roots 

 is increased when the roots are somewhat confined; as is the case with potted plants. To 

 multiply these short feeding roots, and to supply them throughout the year with food, is the 

 one great object to attain in fruit culture ; and I see no reason why it cannot be accomplished 

 with greater facility when the trees are in pots than when they are planted out, which very 

 frequently induces the trees to form long, rambling roots. These check the formation of the 

 smaller roots in numbers, and when they are cut away by root-pruning the trees receive a 

 check in consequence. When the roots are confined, the trees, I know, may be kept in 

 vigorous health by replacing the worn-out soil about the roots annually with new compost — 

 an equivalent to the roots in open borders finding themselves a fresh pasture by the exten- 

 sion of their points. In pot culture I shorten a portion of the roots back each autumn, so as 

 to keep all the roots young and healthy ; and when the trees are growing, I feed besides 

 with liquid manure. Then, again, as to top treatment, not a shoot, or leaf even, should be 

 allowed to grow to waste, or to rob those immediately required for perfecting fruit or 

 producing the wood for the following season. By careful thinning and constant stopping, 

 the leaves allowed to remain become larger, and so much more powerful assimilators of wood 

 and fruit-producing materials, which again induce larger and more highly developed fruit- 

 buds, followed by larger flowers and fruit. It is also a great assistance towards obtaining 

 the highest results in fruit culture to thin out tho blooms when too thickly furnished, and 

 the fruit immediately it is formed, instead of waiting until half swelled before doing so. 

 The entire powers of the tree should be solely directed to the nourishment of the fruit, 

 and, excepting so far as future wood may be wanted, everything else should be closely 

 stopped-in. The Apple, Pear, Peach, Apricot, and Plum, are all susceptible of a great 

 improvement both in size and quality by a closer attention to the above details — too small 

 in themselves, perhaps, to engage general notice. But great successes in horticulture, like 

 successes in other walks of business, are composed so largely of small details, that they too 

 frequently get overlooked. Let growers of fruits in pots compare their hitherto best 

 efforts with what is done with the Pose in a 12-inch pot, and it may assist them in arriving at 

 the conclusion I have drawn for myself — that pot culture for the above, has not reached its 

 best yet. The French gardeners greatly excel us in their attention to details, and hence see 

 the Apples and Pears they produce, as well as Poaches, for which their climate alone is not 

 sufficient to account, and which, with our orchard-house, we ought to excel, — 0. P, 



RASPBERRIES. 



The master, seeing his men very busy in doing "nothing," asks the following question, 

 and gets the following answer, " John, what are you doing r " " Nothing, Sir." " William, 

 what are you doing ? " " Please, Sir, I was just looking after John." " Very good, here is 

 March come upon us, I will see if I can't find better employment for both of you. Get 

 Parke's fork, and go into the Raspberry-bed ; take up the runners, and fork the bed all over: 

 mind, there is nothing like deep cultivation ! " This is tolerably well obeyed by John and 

 W r illiam. Now, I ask any man how he can expect to have a crop of Raspberries after this 

 fashion ? Not only are the old roots broken, but the new spongioles are broken also ; and the 

 roots being turned up to sun and wind, like the ends of skates, of course the crop dwindles 

 away. Hence a man comes to the absurd conclusion that the garden will not bear Straw- 

 berries and Raspberries. Look at the gardens of England generally, and you will find that, 

 except in wet, dripping summers, there are neither of these fruits. Never disturb the ground 

 at all ; handweed, and cover the whole soil with stable litter from the horse, with a little 

 black manure round the stools, and you will have more Raspberries than you will know what 

 to do with. If the summer is very sultry, give each stool one bucket of water twice a-weck. 

 A Raspberry, like a woodcock, lives by suction. Prom three to five canes are enough, and 

 these should be cut down to 3 feet. You will get as much fruit by this height as if you 

 left them 8 feet high. In a word, the dormant eyes at the base will break, protect the young- 

 canes, and keep off the sun. Mine are strong, and are cut to an average of 2 feet 9 inches. 

 I have only one sort, the Beepot (red), which with this treatment never fails. The crop last 

 year was enormous ; but, for want of sun, lacking in flavour. Under proper treatment it 

 cannot be too hot for Raspberries and Strawberries. W r eak liquid manure, and Peruvian 

 guano one small handfull to a stable bucket of water, will greatly assist. W T ith regard to 

 forking the ground, I must observe that I have not moved mine for the last three or four 

 years. If you do move your ground, instead of yoiu- new canes coming up close to the stools, 

 you will have them all over the bed. The candle will burn at both ends, and in the middle 

 too. Keep all runners clown except those close to the stools. The closer the ground is kept 

 down the greater will be your ciop. High manuring upon an undisturbed surface are two 



