JUMS I, 1882.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
X021 
ROOT-GRAFTING ROSES. 
It is probable that this way of increasing roses may 
in some cases be earned out earlier than the last week 
in February; but we do not usually get our propagat- 
ing bed ready before this time, and genial temperature 
is required to insure prompt success. The dog rose 
grows abundantly in Iho hedges round here, and I havo 
just grafted a ij'uiuiC ity of (lie briar routs dug from the 
banks in the lields with pieces of rose shoots taken from 
the best hybrid porpctuuls ; and 1 shall be much dis- 
appointed, judging from previous experience, if the prin- 
cipal part of those grafted roses do not flower 1 In - 
coming summer and autumn. The chief requisites of 
success are to obtain healthy roots of fair strength— 
pieces of roots will do — just starting into growth, and 
the scions or grafts shoidd be obtained from dormant 
shoots of strong healthy plants ; weakly shoots do not 
succeed so well. A sharp knife is an absolute necessity. 
A smooth cut should be made on tho best face of the 
stock, and the scion cut to fit it ; the two should then 
be bound together tightly with soft matting or raffia. 
I prefer the latter. The bark of the stock and scion 
should tit closely on at least one side. As fast as they 
are grafted they should be potted into large 60-sized 
pots if they are large enough, potting the stocks suffici- 
ently deep to bury the bottom of the graft, to exclude 
the air ; this saves grafting wax or clay. Plunge the 
pots into a bottom heat of 75 degrees; in a close frame 
or pit, and shade from bright sunshine until the grafts 
are able to bear it without injury. I prefer sawdust 
for a plunging material, as it maintains a nice moist, 
steady heat. — H. — Field. 
cut back for years, and also open roots, not stunted 
and clumped or pot-grown ; also get trees from a colder 
county— the extra warmth and climate will bring them 
away. A single espalier should ran east and west, but 
rows of espaliers should run north and south. 
Pitgaveny, Elgin, N. B. J. Dunbar Brandeb. 
—Field. 
PLANTING AN ORCHARD. 
Some few years ago I planted about an acre with 
standard apples, pears, and plums. They have done well, 
but since planting out these standards I have planted 
about fifty or sixty trees on wire espaliers, and if ever 
I were planting an orchard again I would put it all on 
wire, for theso reasons : I could put more trees on tho 
samo space, the fruit on the espalier is finer, and it is 
quite safe from tho wind, which often completely strips 
the standards of the fruit when only half ripe. The only 
drawback to the espalier is the first expense, but this 
need not be great. The rails removed from the sleepers 
mako capital end standards or straining posts; the inter- 
mediate posts havo only to sustain the weight of light 
wires ; there is nothing of the nature of a fence to 
resist cattle. They may be made of perforated quarter- 
inch iron bars, merely driven a couple of feet into the 
ground, as, after a year or two, when the trees have 
clothed the wire-, the trees themselves v ill support the 
wires. This is what I would recommend : buy an old 
rail, say loft, long at the price of o'd iron; cut it into 
two lengths of 10ft. and tift.; get the smith to bore a 
dozen holes in the 10ft. length for the wires; sink it 
in tho ground 3ft., leaving 7ft. above ground, and use 
the 6ft. length as a stay. There are no stones or 
anchor necessary for the 10ft. standard — it has only to 
resist tho wind; but one of the wire holes should be 
mado about an inch in diameter, and through this hole 
an iron bolt is driven for the head of the stay to rest 
on. For the foot of the stay a stone or shite laid flat 
about a foot below the surface, and another stone at 
right Angles for the point of tho stay to press against 
like a half-open book. Wire is sold by weight, and very 
light wire would do. I have not tried it, but I think 
common copper lu ll wire would be as economical as any. 
The espaliers shoidd run north and south for the sun; 
if 7ft. high, about Kft. apart to admit the BHD and 
sir. There is ample room for a row of gooseberries or 
currants between each espalier. If a man objects to 
tho sight of an old rail, it i* easy to plant a climbing 
one to hide it. In planting an orchard 1 Bee thai yon 
oi young vigorous trees, not old stumps that havo boon 
HOP CULTURE ON THE NTLGTRIS. 
to the advantages 
in tho Nilgiris by 
and other cereals ; 
desire to add the 
>r, of the Govern- 
opinion that hops 
to situations enjoying a somewhat milder climate than 
that prevailing at Ootacamuud, and considered the land 
in the vicinity of Kotagherry and the eastern portion 
of the plateau generally very suitable for its cultiv- 
ation; but we believe there is nothing on record to 
shew that Mr. Mclvor's recommendation was at any 
time carried into effect. An attempt to grow hops at 
tho Lawrence Asylum Farm, Lovedale, -vas made some 
two years ago, at the suggestion, we believe, of Mr. 
Batchelor, the present local manager of the Nilgiri 
Brewery Company, Limited, but proved unsuccessful. 
The report of that institution, wlude simply recording 
the failure, has not in any way placed on record part- 
iculars. This is all the more to be regretted, inasmuch 
as there are no data for combatting the causes which 
led to such failure. We may not, perhaps, be far wrong 
in concluding that the experiment was left in the hands 
of an experienced person. Be this as it may, it would 
havo been interesting to have had all the information 
we could obtain on the subject for future guidance. 
Fanning is a profession, and the farmer, if he desire 
to be successful, must be a man of general, and in some 
things — particularly agricultural chemistry — deep scientific 
knowledge; and in course of time our local Agricultural 
College ought, we think, to be able to turn out a few 
such men. The mere fact of a failure resulting solely 
from want of experience in {anting operations ought 
ations on the Nilgiris, are adapted to the culture of the 
hop, and we shall be glad to see an effort made in 
this direction. 
The Islo of Thanet was considered to be unsuited 
to the perfect cultivation of the hop plant on account 
of its exposed situation, and the prevalence of cold nip- 
ping winds ; but the experience of the last few years 
has shewn completely the fallacy of this opinion, and 
proved that with skill and care as good hops may be 
grown there as in any part of Kent ; and we see no 
reason why a similar result may not, with time and 
perseverance, be obtained on the Nilgiris, and the hop 
become a staple article of production of those hills. 
Owing to the national predilection for, and the vast 
consumption of beer, the cultivation of tho hop plant 
ought 10 be an object of the most careful uud assiduous 
study in this country. True, hop-growing in England, 
in consequence of numerous contingencies, has come to 
be regarded as a speoies of agricultural gambling, in 
which a great deul is staked by the Fanner on tho off 
chuuee of his having a good crop when generally there 
is a bad one. Chance it is uud nothing more — like 
almost every other undertaking; but this alone ought 
not to be an obstacle to its culture. The hop will 
thrive 011 any land whore good wheat can bo grown — 
it prefers u chop soil, tho deeper tho bolter. A hill 
top is not favorable ; a sito should bo chose u U much 
protected from cold winds as possible, and the seleotiou 
made by tho lite Mr. Mclvor of land in Kotugherry 
and on the eastern plateau of tho Nilgiris is deserting 
