262 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ March si, issi. 
Roses in Pots Dying (TP. R, R.). —By your request your letter was for¬ 
warded to Mr. William Taylor, who replies “ The solution of your mystery is 
as follows : G-loire de Dijon is not a good forcer till the plants are considerably 
older than yours, and have made some quite hard wood which can be cut back 
like a Hybrid Perpetual. Alba Rosea likes heat, and its flowers will not come a 
good colour without it. Your Gloires would not have died with the low tem¬ 
perature, and your Alba Roseas probably would not have done so well. Even 
outdoors Gloire de Dijon does not like much heat; it does best on the north side 
of a building—at least, that is my experience in one of the southern counties. 
Young plants such as yours should not be allowed to become dry during winter; 
the most robust under such conditions would be the first to succumb.” 
Pruning Gooseberries .:( Ignoramus ).—Early spring is a good time for 
pruning Gooseberry bushes, just as the buds are showing signs of sweliing. We 
have, however, pruned them successfully in the autumn where small birds, such 
as bullfinches and sparrows, did not abound to peck out the buds. Where 
these birds are destructive spring pruning is the safest course to adopt. We 
have seen bushes pruned when they assumed a green tinge from the advancing 
growth, and no injury resulted. The mode of pruning depends greatly on the 
age and character of the bushes. If they have been neglected for some years 
severe pruning is not advisable, as the branches in the interior are destitute of 
spurs, but if the branches are furnished with fruit buds these must have light 
and air. Our “ Fruit Gardening for the Many,” post free 4£d., contains instruc¬ 
tions on the subject; but if you want more specific information, and will send 
us the particulars we have indicated pertaining to your trees, we will endeavour 
to supply it. Brief notes on pruning Gooseberries appeared on pages 53 and 75 
of our issue of January the 20th and 27th of the present volume. 
Layering Roses (Rus). —If we decipher your hurriedly written post-card 
correctly, you require information on the above subject. We extract the 
following from “ Rivers’ Rose Amateur’s Guide.” If any of our readers can 
detail a better mode of procedure we will readily publish it. “About the 
middle of July, in most seasons, the shoots will be found about 18 inches 
or 2 feet in length ; from these, two-thirds of their length, the leaves should 
be cut off close to the shoot, beginning at the base, with a very sharp knife; 
the shoot must then be brought to the ground, so as to be able to judge in 
what place the hole must be made to receive it; this may be made large 
enough to hold a quarter of a peck of compost : in heavy and retentive soils 
this should be rotten dung and pit sand in equal quantities, well mixed. The 
shoot must then be ‘ tongued ’— i.e. the knife introduced just below a bud, and 
brought upwards, so as to cut about half way through ; this must be done at 
the side or back of the shoot (not by any means at the front or in the bend), so 
that the tongue does not close; to make this certain a small piece of glass or 
thin earthenware may be introduced to keep it open. Much nicety is required 
to have the tongue at the upper part of the shoot, so as not to be in the part 
which forms the bow, as it is of consequence that it should be within 2 inches 
of the surface, so as to feel the effects of the atmospheric heat; unless this is 
attended to the roots will not be emitted quickly; the tongued part must be 
placed in the centre of the compost, and a moderate-sized stone put on the 
surface of the ground to keep the layer in its place. The first week in November 
the layers must be taken from the parent plant, and either potted as required or 
planted out where they are to remain. Those shoots not long enough in July 
and August may be layered in October, when the layers are taken from the 
stools ; and, if any are forgotten, February and March will be the most favour¬ 
able months for the operation. As a general rule July is the most proper 
season.” 
Young Gardeners (IF. Yates). — The subject was fully discussed in 
vol. xxxvi., and many letters from head and under gardeners were published 
highly creditable to both. In our experience, which is considerable, we have 
noticed that as a rule if an under gardener is diligent, attentive, and industrious, 
and discharges his duties with care and intelligence, being at the same time 
civil and obliging to all, he usually commands the respect ®f his superior, and 
is trusted by him when his trustworthiness has been proved. Head gardeners 
know the value of such men, and do not studiously make them uncomfortable. 
At the same time we know that some gardeners are “ hard to please,” and these 
are often the best teachers. Passing lightly over mistakes is not true kindness. 
We know some of the best gardeners of the day who in their probationary 
career considered themselves harshly treated, and felt at the time they were 
serving the hardest of taskmasters ; but now they are thankful for the habits of 
punctuality and of attention to small details that were enforced, and which 
have proved of inestimable value ; the men who were “ hard ’’ then are respected 
now. Those gardeners who are strict, firm, kind, and just are those who have 
been the means of training men who have proved among the best in their 
calling, and worthy representatives of the vocation in which they are engaged. 
Young gardeners, too, should avail themselves of all possible means of self- 
improvement. Not long ago the manager of one of the best gardens in England 
had not one young man out of the seven or eight “ in the bothy ” who could 
draw a plan of the very simple flower garden that was wanted for a particular 
purpose. He felt a little humiliated when he had to make that confession, and 
most certainly he ought not to have had to discharge such a disagreeable duty. 
Names of Fruits (J. Z>„ Sussex). —1, Wheeler’s Russet; 2, Edmund Jupp ; 
3, Not known. 
Names of Plants (IF. A.).—If you will send numbered specimens of the 
Ferns we shall be able to make a reply intelligible to you, but those we have 
received are not marked in any way. ( Ebor). —1, Asclepias curassavica ; 2, The 
small leaf, which was quite shrivelled, was unrecognisable. Sprays have been 
received from other correspondents that are quite insufficient for identification, 
some of them owing to having been sent in letters and crushed during transit 
through the post. 
COYENT GARDEN MARKET.— MARCH 30. 
THE last few sunny days have brought a good supply of Strawberries to our 
Market, and with short demand prices have given way considerably. Trade 
keeps quiet, good samples of late Grapes only being in request. 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Apples. 
J sieve 2 
6 to4 
6 
Melons . 
each 
0 
OtoO 
0 
Apricots. 
box 0 
0 
0 
0 
Nectarines. 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Cherries. 
IP ft. 0 
0 
0 
0 
Oranges . 
ip ioo 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Chestnuts. 
bushel 12 
0 
16 
0 
Peaches . 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Figs. 
dozen 0 
0 
0 
0 
Pears,kitchen .. 
dozen 
2 
0 
s 
0 
Filberts. 
IPft. 0 
0 
0 
0 
dessert . 
dozen 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Cobs. 
IP ft 2 
0 
0 
0 
Pine Apples .... 
IP ft 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Gooseberries .... 
j sieve 0 
0 
0 
0 
Strawberries .... 
per ft. 
8 
0 
12 
0 
Grapes . 
IP ft 6 
0 
15 
0 
Walnuts . 
bushel 
0 
0 
0 
0 
L unions. 
^ case 12 
0 
18 
0 
ditto .„ 
IP 100 
0 
0 
0 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
8. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d 
Artichokes. 
dozen 
2 
0 to 4 
0 
Mushrooms 
1 
otol 
« 
Asparagus. 
bundle 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Mustard* Cress .. punnet 
0 
2 
0 
8 
Beans,Kidney.... 
100 
1 
0 
l 
6 
Onions. 
3 
6 
5 
0 
Beet, Red. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
pickling .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Broccoli. 
bundle 
0 
9 
1 
6 
Parsley. 
doz.bunches 
6 
0 
0 
0 
Brussels Sprouts.. 
4 sieve 
0 
9 
1 
3 
Parsnips .... 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Cabbaere. 
o 
6 
1 
o 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Carrots. 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Potatoes .... 
3 
» 
4 
0 
Capsicums. 
IP 100 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Kidney.... 
4 
0 
4 
6 
Cauliflowers. 
dozen 
0 
0 
3 
6 
Radishes.... 
doz .bunches 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Celery . 
bnnd 1ft 
1 
6 
2 
o 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Coleworts_doz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Salsafy. 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Cucumbers. 
each 
0 
6 
1 
o 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Endive. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
o 
.. basket 
3 
0 
3 
8 
Fennel. 
bunch 
0 
3 
o 
o 
lb. 
3 
0 
0 
Garlic . 
^ ft. 
0 
6 
0 
0 
. bushel 
3 
0 
0 
0 
Herbs. 
bunch 
0 
2 
0 
c 
Turnips. 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Leeks. 
bunch 0 
3 
0 
4 
Fegetable Marrows each 
0 
0 
0 
0 
POULTRY AND PIGEON CHRONICLE. 
THE UTILISATION OF WASTE LAND. 
( Continued from page 243.) 
We now follow up our proposals for utilising waste land by 
referring to what may be done by converting it into woodlands 
and plantations for the production of timber and underwood. 
The land requiring to be turned to account by planting trees will 
be various, for we have to consider not only certain soils apper¬ 
taining to mountainous and moorland districts, but also those 
previously used as arable land, but which has been reduced to a 
comparatively useless state. We will first consider mountainous 
land intermixed with moors and peat moss. This will require 
draining as far as the peat bogs are concerned ; and if the land is 
covered with Heather, Ling, and Gorsa it may all be advantageously 
pared and burned, because a large body of ashes will be secured, 
which will furnish all the manure required for the growth of trees 
if the land is properly cultivated by steam power to the depth of 
18 inches. These remarks do not apply to land comparatively 
inaccessible in high altitudes, because not only the difficulty of 
using steam power will occur, but also the effect of climate will 
often render it inadvisable to plant in such exposed situations. 
Again, in the peat moor portions of such land after draining a 
question will arise as to whether the peat can be dug and sold, or 
turned to advantage by planting in an improved state by the 
mixture of soils, such as sand, gravel, or clay. 
We will now give an illustration of what we have known to be 
done upon land of little worth in a hill district with a favourable 
climate for timber, such as is often found in various parts of the 
kingdom where the rainfall is frequently beyond the average. In 
the case to which we shall allude the land had been purchased at 
£15 per statute acre, and turned to profit by planting with Larch 
Firs and Ash, at 24 inches apart. The cost of trenching or culti¬ 
vating by steam power was estimated to have cost on the average 
£12 per acre. The planting as estimated would be done as follows 
for 1 [acre :—Fir plants, 8800 ; Ash plants, 1440 ; total being 
10,240 plants, distributed thus :—First row all Larch, second row 
every alternate plant Ash, the cutting to commence at the end of 
the eighth year, and the whole to be cleared at the end of sixteen 
years. The cost of plants would be about £12 10a., planting at 
£5 10a., making a total, including hoeing at £1, the sum of £31, 
with interest charged on outlay at £4 per cent, for sixteen years 
=£20. In commencing cutting at the end of the eighth year the 
produce would be 1280 poles at 3d. each, which would realise 
£16. The ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth years would yield, 
3840 poles at 3d. each, the sum of £48 ; the thirteenth, fourteenth, 
fifteenth, and sixteenth years would produce, after allowing for 
