March 19, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
229 
satisfactory as regards the quality of the productions, whilst the simul¬ 
taneous cropping system affords a greater weight of produce, though the 
separate system can be practised in large gardens where there is room for 
a proper rotation, and also on large tracts of land cultivated with a view 
to profit, as it is the least expensive. Ground with good cultivation will, 
of course, under one crop afford a very satisfactory result, and probably as 
large interest on the outlay of capital as land subjected to simultaneous 
cropping, which entails a greater outlay in manure, seeds or plants, and 
cultivation. For instance, a field of ten acres upon the agricultural 
system will not need more capital than an acre of garden ground upon the 
simultaneous cropping system, and the profits are about equal. The rent 
of the farm land is perhaps £1 per acre, that of the one acre of garden 
ground, £5. It clearly would not answer to cultivate the one acre upon 
the same system as the ten. 
There is great difference between allowing weeds to grow up with a 
crop to its detriment, and taking a crop of something between or along 
with another. The sowing of Radishes with Onions means a crop of the 
former before there is any damage done to the Onions. Overcropping is 
the only likely disaster in the simultaneous system, and though far more 
skill, attention, and judgment are essential to its successful practice, it is 
attended with satisfaction in obtaining a great variety of productions in 
considerable quantities that could not be attained by the separate crop 
system from the same ground. In private gardens the system of cropping 
is different from those where vegetables are cultivated for sale, as the 
demand 0 exceedingly variable, therefore no system can be given that 
would be applicable under all circumstances. The market grower can 
follow one crop with another that will be strictly in rotation, but the 
private grower is often obliged to follow a crop with another of the same 
nature. 
This opens another question as to what will maintain ground subjected 
to simultaneous cropping in continued fertility. Mineral substances are 
not much taken into account by the most successful gardeners, as they 
rely more upon decomposing matter applied in quantity to prepare the 
ground for almost any crop. We have to face planting or sowing ground 
after crops that even experience has proved inadvisable, and as fresh 
ground is not available what are we to do ? For instance, if we have 
worn-out Asparagus or Strawberry beds a proper rotation would point to 
plants of a distinct natural order and short duration, but if we must 
follow with the same, what then ? If we add mineral matter, and after 
mixing with the soil replant, the chances are that the succeeding crop 
will not be any better than that removed. But let a good dressing of 
manure be given, let the surface soil be changed for that underneath, 
the surface spits full of decomposing matter be displaced by the bottom 
or second spits as poor apparently as it well can be ; but after this 
is enriched by manure what a change is brought about ! One of our 
best Dahlia growers has grown his plants on the same ground for nearly 
thirty years, taking priz:s with the blooms last year, and the ground is 
simply heavily manured and trenched. I have noticed that in replanting 
after trees that have been taken down in an old plantation that where the 
ground was trenched after stubbing the young trees made very much 
better growth than where it was merely stubbed, and in gardens I have 
noticed that where crops of a particular kind were not satisfactory they 
were improved by trenching. I conclude, therefore, that mineral matter 
owes its p itency to the solvency effected by the action of manure, tho 
change effected bv the roots of plants, and its exposure or otherwise to 
the atmosphere. Manuring and stirring the ground are the foundation of 
all cropping. I do not for a moment entertain an opinion that dressings 
of even lime, much less nitrates, phosphates, See., are not beneficial, but I 
feel convinced that those are no substitutes for animal manures. I 
would even go further, and submit that lime and the others are mainly 
beneficial through the change they effect in the soil constituents, but 
chiefly by accelerating decomposition or liberating food that would other¬ 
wise remain inert. 
Where there is little chance of rotation of crops through many sorts 
and a large production being required from a small extent of ground, the 
only plan is to manure heavily and cultivate deeply. In all cases, how¬ 
ever, it is sound practice to seek a change of crop as frequently as circum¬ 
stances allow.—G. Abbey. 
(To be continued.) 
NOTES ON GRAPES. 
Gros M v.roc Grape. —I had the pleasure of planting a Vine of dr's 
variety in June, 1881, along with seven Vines of Muscat of Alexandria. 
They fruited the following year and have borne good crops ever since, the 
Muscats being all that could be desired. Gros Maroc has proved a free 
setter and a strong grower, the hunches large and even, the berries of good 
size, round, and covered very thickly with most beautiful bloom. As to 
quality, however, its skin is tough, the flesh coarse and stringy, and the 
flavour almost absent. I consider it excellent in appearance, but worth¬ 
less as to quality. It has not been fairly tested as to its keeping 
qualities. 
I consider Mrs. Pince will yet prove one of our most valuable late 
Grapes when its culture is better understood. It appears to require a 
much longer season than Lady Downe’s or Alicante to ripen it thoroughly, 
as growing with them I have noticed it never colours so soon or so per¬ 
fectly ; and in very warm autumns, such as the last, it is much better in 
this respect, and keeps better—W. H. Divers, Ketton Hall. 
Black Hamburgh Grape. —When Mr. Stephen Castle prophesied 
that Gro3 Maroc would displace the Black Hamburgh for Christmas use, 
I understood him to imply as a market Grape, and as such I replied. 
Generally speaking, Black Hamburgh is out of season after September. 
At the same time, I had in my mind the wonderfully fine late Black 
Hamburghs that are always to be seen at Drumlanrig. I venture to say 
these are the exception, not the rule. We often hear of hunches of this 
variety being kept plump until the end of the year, but seldom see them. 
During last November Chrysanthemum shows were held throughout 
England, and at most of these exhibitions prizes were offered for black 
Grapes. I would like to know in how many instances out of its own 
special class it was awarded first prize, and as it seems to be so plentiful 
at Christmas it would he interesting to know something of the quantities 
that go into Covent Garden Market at that festive season and the prices 
they realise when passing through the salesmen’s hands. We can and do 
keep the Duke of Buccleuch until the end of the year, but, generally 
speaking, it is out of season after September.—J. McIndoe. 
A VISIT TO “CANNELL’S.” 
Recently I had an opportunity of visiting the “ Home of Flowers,” 
Swanley, and, although it was not a time of year to find it at its best, I 
saw much that gratified me. Mr. Cannell’s nursery has been so often 
desciibed that I will not attempt to give a general description, but to note 
a few good plants which were in bloom at the time of my visit. As is 
well known, Zonal Pelargoniums grown in pots for winter decoration 
form one of the features of this establishment, and out of the vast number 
of varieties I selected the following as being most noteworthy and useful 
for growing in pots. Up to the present time a good snow-white variety 
has been wanting, other colours being forthcoming in abundance ; but 
the two varieties under notice—Le Cygne (double) and Queen of the 
Belgians (single)—have supplied the want. By the number of flowers, 
their quality and purity, these varieties will henceforth be invaluable for 
growing in pots for supplying white flowers in abundance through the 
winter months. The other varieties I found especially worthy of notice 
were Lord Chesterfield, of a beautiful shade of soft magenta ; Ajax, soft 
reddish scarlet; Dante, rich magenta suffused with purple ; Cato, orange- 
scarlet; Lady Chesterfield, deep salmon, a grand acquisition; Plutarch, 
bright scarlet; Rose, rosy red ; Imogen, salmon ; Celia, beautiful rose ; 
Zclia, rich crimson, tinted purple and orange; Norah, soft blush ; Con¬ 
stance, rose; Clytie, crimson, suffused with magenta ; Kate Greenaway, 
bright pink. The above varieties are all of the finest form and substance. 
The next plants which especially took my notice were the Primulas. 
Swanley Purple was very attractive. Primulas of this shade of colour are 
generally spoken of as “ washy,” but Swanley Purple is most decidedly a 
distinct colour. Princess Beatrice, salmon, margined with white ; 
Lilacina, Swanley Red, Queen of the Whites ; The Queen, white, slightly 
tinted with rose ; and Emperor, carmine, were simply splendid. 
Cinerarias were represented by those sterling varieties March Past, 
Victory, Mr. Cullingford, Dr. Masters, and Excelsior. The Cyclamen 
house was filled with a wealth of bloom, the strain also being superb. 
Amongst the winter-flowering Begonias B. Carrierei was especially note¬ 
worthy. It is of good habit, besides being a most profuse bloomer, even 
in a very small state. The larger plants were about 18 inches high and 
as much in diameter, and were covered with their white flowers. A glance 
through several houses show the extent of business enjoyed by this 
establishment. Dahlias were being propagated by thousands, and the 
range of frames devoted to Carnations and Picotees were astonishing. 
The surrounding country may well be termed the “ Home of Fruit,” 
for stretching away further than the eye could see were fiuit tree and 
Strawberry plantations to the extent of thousands of acres. It is quite 
certain that the fruit farmers believe in liberal applications of manure, 
for Mr. Cannell informed me that 45,000 tons were delivered at Swanley 
station last year.—A. Young. 
MANAGEMENT OF HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
Mr. Waterman’s very interesting essay on the history and manage¬ 
ment of horticultural societies would doubtless be read with much pleasure 
by the majority of your readers. One paragraph, however, or portion 
thereof, should not, I venture to think, pass unnoticed. Speaking of re¬ 
strictions in schedules he says—“ At Liverpool members exhibit free, to 
non-members the entrance fee is 5s. for each show, and all classes in 1884 
were open, but to the discredit of the Liverpool gardeners, or the Com¬ 
mittee of the Association, it must be admitted in the year of grace 1885, 
four classes are within the ten miles radius ; Class 88 at the summer 
Exhibition, and Classes 56, 62, and 65 at the autumn Show.” To those 
who have not seen a Liverpool schedule, I may state Class 88 is for a 
collection of twelve kinds of vegetables—not the only class in this sec¬ 
tion, as there are eleven others open to all comers. Class 56, which is 
for four varieties of Grapes, is open ; Classes 58, 62, and 65, which are 
local, are for Apples and Pears. In addition to these there are seventeen 
other classes for fruit (open) in the same schedule. 
Now, I respectfully invite Mr. Waterman to explain to the readers of 
the Journal why the restriction of four classes out of 222 is a discredit to 
the Liverpool gardeners or the Committee of the Association. True, 
last year all classes were open, but it is on matters of experience by which 
committees of management should be guided. Last year again con¬ 
firmed previous opinions, that it is an unfortunate fact that we cannot 
produce by outdoor growth vegetables and many kinds of hardy fruit to 
