114 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 9, 1883. 
In the same garden a long row of John Bull is growing. It 
appears that in sowing the seed was at first used too liberally, 
and to sow the whole length of drill it was necessary to sow 
thinly towards the end of the drill opposite to where the sowing 
commenced—near the extreme end of the row very thinly indeed. 
For a time it was feared the row at the thin end would be a 
failure, but now if there is a failure at all it is at the other 
end, where at the least thrice the quantity of seed was used per 
yard. Where the plants are thin they are extraordinarily strong, 
have branched freely, and are bearing distinctly the finest crop 
and the largest pods. 
Several years ago when that useful Pea Yeiteh’s Perfection 
was new, and consequently more expensive than it is now, I 
remember some rows that 1 have not seen equalled since. The 
seeds were dibbed m a double row at the same distances that 
Broad Beans are usually put in. The plants were luxuriant, 
the row full, the crop abundant, and the pods splendid. 
This thin sowing would not answer so well in the autumn 
nor in inclement weather in early spring, but as the season 
advances, the land becomes friable, and the weather improves, 
it is questionable if the plan is not the best that can be adopted 
in deeply trenched and well-manured ground. What do the 
exhibitors of Peas say ? They know which is the best method, 
and would do no harm by stating it.—A Plain Gardener. 
ROSES AT BERKHAMPSTEAD. 
Most readers of the horticultural papers have heard of the splendid 
Muscat Grapes grown at the nurseries of Messrs. Lane & Son, but it is 
not of Grapes but of Roses I wish to make a few remarks. I may state 
in passing that it is not from a showman’s point of view that I name 
some of the many really good varieties of Roses grown in these nurseries. 
It is those only that took my fancy as free bloomers and vigorous 
growers that I shall name in this brief notice. Here are to be found 
a large collection of all the newest and best, besides a large general 
collection of tried varieties worthy of cultivation, some as dwarfs and 
some as standards. All are in the most vigorous health, with hardly 
any trace of mildew or any other disease to which Roses are sometimes 
liable. My visit was a hurried one, and I had no time to follow the 
catalogue arrangement, but jotted down a few of those which seemed 
worthy of growing. Many are grown by the hundred, and at the time 
of my visit, 18th July, were flowering profusely. I feel certain anyone 
who has not grown the following varieties will not be disappointed by 
adding them to their collection :— 
Capitaine Christy, blush, large, and good ; Duke of Connaught, 
velvety crimson, good ; Sultan of Zanzibar, very dark ; Mrs. Baker, 
crimson, large, and fine; Dupuy Jamain, bright rose; Henry Bennett, 
velvety crimson, good in bud, but petals thin ; Marguerite Brassac, deep 
carmine, good ; Mabel Morrison, as seen there one of the very best 
whites, like Baronne de Rothschild ; Madame Lacharme, white, tinged with 
rose, good ; Countess of Rosebery, large, carmine rose, vigorous grower ; 
Duchess of Bedford, scarlet, good ; La Rosidre, crimson, large and fine ; 
Mons. E. Y. Teas, red, fine form ; Red Gauntlet, very bright red ; Abbe 
Bramerel, dark red, good ; Etienne Levet, rose, fine ; Duchesse de 
Yallombrosa, light pink changing to white, large and good ; Marguerite 
de St. Amand, fleshy pink ; Hippolyte Jamain, rose, large and good ; 
Mdlle. Eugdnie Yerdier, large, rosy pink, with large petals like Poeony 
Rose; Madame Gabriel Luizet, pink, one of the best; Dr. Andry, red, very 
good ; Madame Victor Verdier, good ; Marie Baumann, rosy crimson, 
very fine ; La France, lilac rose, very large and good ; Louis Van Houtte, 
dark, rich, and good ; Countess of Oxford, good ; Elise Boelle, creamy 
white ; Paul Neyron, rose, very large and showy ; Queen of Waltham, 
Star of Waltham, Glory of Cheshunt, and Brightness of Cheshunt, all 
good ; Pride of Waltham, dark red ; John Hopper, rosy crimson, good ; 
Pierre Notting, vermilion, good ; A. K. Williams, good. This hurried 
list might be considerably extended with equally good varieties, but 
those named especially attracted my attention.—J. Smith, Mentmore, 
POULTRY AND PIGEONS IN GARDENS. 
Mr. T. B. Dolby's case as he has stated it on page 71 appears a 
peculiarly hard one. He asks if a parallel case is known. There is 
probably no such case on record. I am told persons cannot claim 
damages for injury done by pigeons the same as for poultry, and if the 
birds cannot be shot when they are caught at their destructive work it 
follows that the Pigeons are our masters. If this is law it is not justice. 
In my district game is strictly preserved, yet anyone is permitted to 
shoot wood pigeons, as they are so destructive in fields. Domestic pigeons 
where they abound are equally voracious and work ruin amongst Peas. 
Has there not been an error of judgment in the case in question ? If so 
the Judge, being a pigeon fancier, ought to be the first to assist in grant¬ 
ing a new trial. The case as it stands is most unsatisfactory, and the 
verdict may have far-reaching and very serious consequences. I see by 
a reply last week the Editor is endeavouring to obtain information on 
the law affecting Pigeons. This is well, but it would almost appear as 
if they were above law.—A Seed-Grower. 
[So far as we have ascertained the following cases represent the law 
on this subject, and we commend them to Mr. Dolby and his solicitor. 
“ If pigeons come upon my land I may kill them, but I have no remedy 
against anyone for breeding them.” 
“ If domestic pigeons come upon land sown with corn and eat up the 
corn, the occupier of the land is justified in shooting them, as he has no 
other means of taking them damage feasant.” — (Denell v. Sanders, Cro. 
Jac., 490 ; Hannan v. Mockett, 2 B. & C., 939.) 
“ Killing, wounding, or taking any house dove or pigeon wantonly 
is an offence punishable summarily by fine of £2 above the value of the 
bird.”— (24 3; 25 Viet. c. 96.) 
APRICOT BRANCHES DYING. 
(Continued from page 515 last uol.) 
Soil and Climate .—Soil exerts a great influence on the growth, 
health, and prolificness of Apricots, and should be calcareous on 
soils overlying the limestone formation; but as oolite, lias, and 
even lime are not on the surface (though the latter is often only 
covered with a shallow stratum of soil) these formations exert 
but small influence on the growth of trees. This should be 
taken into consideration in forming fruit tree borders, and 
where the lime is at such depths as to be beyond reach of 
the roots of the trees it should be furnished in some form. 
Old mortar rubbish answers well, and being readily accessible 
will commend itself, whilst chalk broken small is equally service¬ 
able. Chalk marls are also available, coprolite3, shellsand, and 
even gypsum being capital additions to soils deficient in cal¬ 
careous matter; but these, except the chalk marl, are best given 
as surface dressings. As a rule, one-tenth that of the loam 
employed in making the borders for Apricots should be chalk 
or lime rubbish, or where the soil is alluvial, or a loam having 
but a very small proportion of lime, for it exists more or less in 
all soils except it be peat and bog soil, the proportion of lime 
rubbish or chalk may equal a sixth of the whole, and in all cases 
be thoroughly incorporated. Lime is essential to the successful 
cultivation of the Apricot and all stone fruits. A calcareous 
soil best suits the Plum on which the Apricot is worked, and the 
nutriment it affords to the scion or Apricot tree is calculated to 
give solidity to its growth and the perfection of its stones, few 
fruits being cast in stoning in a calcareous soil as compared with 
those in a soil not containing more than a small per-centage of 
lime. Even a dressing of quicklime applied to the surface and 
forked in has a marked effect for the better on trees in an 
unsatisfactory state, a couple of bushels per rod not being too 
much for soils that have long been under crops of vegetables on 
fruit borders heavily manured. 
The border should be well drained, and the depth of soil not 
more than 2 feet, as the Apricot, or rather its stock—the Plum— 
is a surface-rooting tree, and the roots should be encouraged and 
kept at the surface, but this is practically impossible if the 
border is to be used for early vegetables, and the heavy manuring 
and deep digging resorted to. It is only courting failure by 
causing the roots to strike deeply into the soil; and this, with 
the richness of the soil, tends to gross growth and the im¬ 
maturity of the wood, which only needs severe weather to result 
in gum and ultimate dying off of the limbs. 
The materials constituting the border should be put together 
firmly, as this tends to cause a steady growth in the trees, and is 
not conducive to that luxuriance characteristic of trees in a 
loose and rich soil. Once made the border ought not to be dug, 
but as south borders are so valuable, there are few, if any, 
gardeners that could avoid cropping them ; nor, indeed, are 
such wide borders as we now employ for fruit trees necessary. 
It would be well if the trees were not given more than one-third 
the space now allotted, 5 or 6 feet width of border being ample 
for a wall 10 feet or even 12 feet high, and less in proportion, 
and this part ought to be kept exclusively for the trees. With 
the trees in such borders they are almost as much under 
command as when grown under glass. They can be mulched, 
and the roots fed, if necessary, with liquid manure when carry¬ 
ing heavy crops, the mulching encouraging surface roots, and 
only moisture in addition is necessary to keep them there. 
Climate .—The Apricot is a tender exotic, and indigenous to 
a country with a drier climate in spring than ours, if not more 
genial in summer; yet the fruits in this climate have come safely 
through the ordeal where proper means of protection have been 
given. Not very long ago I read in the Journal a statement by 
Mr. Pearson that Apricot blossom and the trees really did not 
require protection in spring, advancing in proof the good crops 
obtained from the walls of cottages, where the trees were seldom 
if ever protected. This is incontestable as regards the trees 
against cottages in the firm and comparative poor soil, causing 
a much less and consequently ripened growth. But what of 
such advice for trees in the rich soil of gardens ? Herring nets, 
