72 



THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 



roots will assist very materially in keeping open the border, and being so 

 much under control can be fed with weak solutions of liquid manure to great 

 advantage. I particularly recommend watering with clear liquid manure when 

 it is found necessary, having myself committed a great error through watering 

 with solutions too strong. 



It often occurs that Vines do well for a few years, and ultimately the 

 border becomes a close, sour mass, brought about principally through watering 

 with thick, strong, liquid manure, and too often accompanied with bad drainage ; 

 also the mixing-in with the soil horse, cow, or pig manure, and often an excess 

 of raw bones, carrion, and such like souring materials, which are quite sufficient 

 to poison the roots of the hardiest plants we have. It should be borne in 

 mind that once a Vine-border is made and the Vines established, it cannot be 

 turned over 2 or 3 feet deep to sweeten like a piece of ground required for 

 vegetables : hence, as I have above stated, the importance of thoroughly 

 draining, and putting together such materials as are most likely to keep up a 

 healthy sustaining action of decomposition, and in which Nature's battery can 

 perform its important work. Assuming the concrete to have set sufficiently, 

 place upon this a foot of drainage, consisting of old brickbats and mortar 

 rubble, putting the largest at the bottom, and finishing at the top with the 

 smallest sizes. A few bones broken to the size of hens' eggs, and mixed with 

 the drainage, will be found to be very beneficial after a few years to the Vine. 

 The following composition is as nearly as possible what constitutes my own 

 Vine-borders, which have so far done all that I could wish : — Three parts 

 strong turfy loam 2 inches thick, if one hundred years old I would not grumble ; 

 one part good road-scrapings, get the latter off a flinty road if possible ; one 

 part old brickbats and mortar, if two hundred years old so much the better ; 

 one wheelbarrowful of boiled bones (ground to the size of half an inch) to 

 fifteen of the compost; mix all well together, taking care not to chop the turf- 

 sods too small, every square foot may be cut with the spade into six pieces. 

 Now, previous to wheeling the border to its destination, place three layers of 

 the turfy sods (just as they have been taken, up), grass side downwards, this 

 will be found to make a good filter ; then wheel together the necessary quantity 

 for the first piece of border. 



Vine Cottage, Gar stun, near Liverpool. Joseph Meredith. 



{To he continued.) 



NOUVELLE ROYALE CHERRY. 



WITH AN ILLUSTRATION. 



The Nouvelle Royale belongs to the "Duke" race of Cherries, and may 

 be regarded as an improved form of the Late Duke (Anglaise tardive), 

 than which it is somewhat later, and continues in use after that excellent 

 variety is over. Its distinguishing merit is its great size and beauty, and in 

 possessing the melting flesh and sweet-acid flavour of the May Duke. 



The fruit is large, very much larger than May Duke, round, and flattened 

 at the stalk. The skin is of a brilliant light glossy red, somewhat mottled 

 with large dark red dots. Stalk 1^ to 1£ inch long. Flesh tender, melting, 

 and very juicy, with a fine sprightly and refreshing May Duke flavour.. 



A first-rate Cherry, ripening in the end of July and continuing in use till 

 the middle and end of August. ; 



Our figure was taken from a specimen furnished by Mr. Rivers. 



