290 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 4, 1 ? t3 
the protection of a frame in winter, being readily increased by divnion 
and seed. 
.Aster versicolor.— The flowers are only small or medium-sized 
for a Michaelmas Daisy, white chiefly, changing to rote, some flowers 
being of that colour when expanded. The flowers are borne in 
dense clusters or masses, and are very numerous. It grows 4 feet 
in height, and commenced flowering early in September. 
Aster polyphyllus.— 'The flowers of this are only of medium 
size, white, and very abundantly produced. It commenced flowering 
early in September, and is a tall grower, 4 t) 5 feet high. 
Aster Amellus has large purplish-blue flowers, with yellow 
centres. It is very free flowering and dwarf, not, or rarely, exceed¬ 
ing 2 feet in height. Fine as this is, it is not nearly so tine as 
A. Amellus bessarabicus, with its rich bluish-purple flowers and 
orange centres, it being unquestionably one of the finest, and is dwarf 
in habit, attaining to a height of about 2 feet. It is larger and finer 
than the species. It flowers in the midd'e of September. 
Aster dumosus.— This grows about a yard high, and has bright 
purple flowers, produced abundantly at the close of September, and 
is one of the very best. All the Michaelmas Daisies do best in 
friable loam, and are readily increased by division. 
The Colchicums are flowering profusely, imparting quite a cheery 
appearance to the borders, giving hope of the autumn Crocuses, 
which are also appealing, and once seen are sure to be appreciated. 
Wall Plant—Clematis coccinea.— T his proves to be a slender 
grower, attaining only to a height of G feet, and is evidently her¬ 
baceous. The flowers are bell-shaped (not drooping), borne or 
supported by somewhat, lung footstalks. The flowers are bright 
scarlet, and the plant when covered with flowers is very beautiful. 
The sepals are four, but the flower opens very little, the segments 
being reflexed at the tip and black, the interior of the flower orange. 
The flowers proceed from the axils of the leaves, and at the extremities 
of the growths, and singly. It appears to do well in any light rich 
soil, and commenced flowering early in September.—G. Abbey. 
RENOVATING PEACHES AND NECTARINES— 
LARGE versus SMALL TREES. 
Tiie present is the time for renovating these trees indoors, and 
the season for planting is rapidly approaching ; in fact, alterations 
in early and second early houses could have been completed before 
now where cultivators are not afraid of lifting their trees when in 
full leaf. It is surprising what beneficial results frequently follow 
the lifting of old trees. 1 think, however, it is even more general 
to find trees that should be in the prime of life brought into an 
unhealthy and unfir tile state through negligent management. 
Experience has taught us that old as well as middle-aged specimens 
can be wonderfully improved, and will, after the work of renovation, 
if not delayed too late, and a season’s careful cultivat’on, regain a 
healthy condit’on, and continue bearing good crops of fruit for a 
number of years. I have seen old trees which a few years ago were 
considered only fit to be -burned, but after being lifted and given 
new soil are now grand specimens, that for fruitfulness, health, or 
vigour could not be surpassed by young trees ; but how seldom, when 
young enthusiastic men take charge of houses in which are a 
number of old trees in a critical condition, do they decide to restore 
them, if possible, to their former health and vigour ? The decision 
to root them out and plant young trees is often too hastily formed. 
There are many things to beconsidtred before the work of destruction 
commences, for old trees can be restored with comparatively little 
trouble or loss of fruit. The last is an important consideration, and 
the primary object in the majority of establishments, and what can be 
expected from young trees before the third season ? They can, of 
course, be fruited eatlier, but when the object is to cover the trellis 
as early as pcssib’e with bearing wood, the development of the tree 
would take considerably longer if they were fruited in their early 
stage. The best system to adopt when fruit is wanted and the house 
must be estab ished with young trees at the same time, is to plant 
the young ones after patching up the old ones to fiuit, while the 
former fill the trellis. The old trees in this case must be cut away 
annually until the permanent trees are capable of bearing a crop. 
Old neglected trees that, have been undisturbed for years have 
roots that are generally almost destitute of fibres, and it is difficult to 
keep any fruit that may set upon them until after the stoning period. 
They not unfrequently swell irregularly after they are set, or they 
fall in stoning. If they can be retained to this stage success after¬ 
wards may be anticipated, as fibry routs will have formed along the 
bare woody' stems and have taken possession of the new soil. After 
lifting, the crop if heavy should be well thinned, but cultivators 
must be guided in this matter entirely by the health and condition 
of the trees. Considerable care must be exercised to preserve every 
fibre possible. The roots in most cases will be found knotty and 
bri.tie, and break readily ; but it is surprising how rapidly fibres are 
produced by these woody stems after they are brought near the 
surface and laid amongst fresh soil. 
Five years ago when renovating a range of Peach houses 260 feet 
long, two old trees were purposely retained for expei iment, one in 
the early' and the other in the second early house. From appearance 
these trees were of the same age and the same variety, differing 
only in one being larger than the other. These, as well as some of 
the other trees in the same houses, had been planted upon a stage 
formed of 10 or 12-inch pots, with very T large slates laid over them, 
the roots as far as the stage extended being only' covered with about 
8 inches of soil. r lhe tree in the ear’y house was the largest, and 
was thoroughly lifted ; the other had merely the contents of the 
stage beneath it removed, and the space filled up with the soil 
removed from the first-mentioned tree. The experiment ended last 
autumn, when it would have been difficult to draw a comparison 
between the two. r i he one that had been lifted thoroughly and rapidly 
recruited itself, and was in grand condition, with clean fibry roots, 
while the other had declined yearly in vigour. Early last autumn the 
latter was subject to lifting, and the tree shows already a marked 
improvement in strength and condition of its wood. It was allowed 
to carry a fair crop of fruit, which was superior both in size and 
quality to the fruit ripened the two or three seasons previous This 
is merely refeired to for the purpose of showing how rapid is the 
work of improvement even with old trees, for few, indeed, could be 
in a much woise state. I do not doubt that the tree in question 
would, if we wished to retain it, continue improving and produce 
crops of excellent fruit for many years. 
I he question arises, and is of vast importance at this season of the 
y'ear, Whether large trees are preferable to small ones, or vice versa? 
Until very recently I had a great admiration for large trees, and 
was inclined to ridicule the idea of growing pigmies. In houses say 
GO feet long, I could not see the advantage of having five or six 
trees to fill the space, but thought three much better, or even two. 
In order to put, these ideas into practice I planted three trees to fill 
the houses of GO feet. In the second house I resolved that a healthy 
young tree of Royal George should fill the who’e house. Its branches 
extended rapidly, and soon filled 30 feet of the trellis, and before 
now would have filled the whole house ; but I discovered it was 
already' too large, and instead of proving any advantage results had 
been quite opposite, not that I entertained any doubt that anything 
might happen to it, and thus leave the whole house vacant. The 
principal reason was that the enormous quantity of fruit that it was 
already carrying ripened too much at one time, and that if it was 
allowed to till the house the supply would soon be over. It is clearly 
evident that to maintain a succession of fruit a number of trees are 
preferable to one, as varieties can be selected to ripen at different 
times. I still have a fancy for large well-developed trees, and am 
inclined to believe they do better on the whole than small ones, but fur 
purposes of succession I believe that four trees in a space of 60 feet 
would be preferable to three, although I have only' three in each of 
my houses. What say others on this subject?—Wi. Bardney. 
POTATOES. 
Like your correspondent “ H.,” I am every spring seized by what 
he aptly terms an attack of “ Potato fever.” It is so very interesting to 
read the descriptions of the new varieties, to mark off a few of the most 
promising, and so pleasant to chuckle over the prospect of having a few 
dishes of Potatoes at the local flower show which will fairly distance all 
competitors. Results are indeed often disappointing, but I would warn 
“ H.” against being satisfied with the first year’s trial. I gave 2s. 6d. for a 
pound of Mr. Bresee. On lifting I found a poor crop of small Potatoes, and 
was disgusted, so the following season I had this variety planted in a spare 
corner where the ground was poor and full of twitch. As the summer ad¬ 
vanced I was much surprised to see the tops look so healthy and well, but 
on lifting a few roots early in July of that year I was astonished to find 
my despised Potatoes turn out the finest in the garden, and from that day 
Mr. Bresee has been one of my favourites. “ H.” would not complain 
about the tops, for although branching they are not tall. Experientia 
docet, and I have now about forty varieties which I have tried in my 
garden with good cultivation and in a field of very poor soil with poor 
cultivation, so that I shall be pleased to give others the results of my 
trials. In response to “ H.,” I would rather suggest that we start a 
company of gardeners, of which each member shall try one or more 
novelties, and give the result of his trial to his fellow members. All 
raisers of new Potatoes, &c., are apt to think their introductions of 
more merit than they actually are, and a seedling Potato of my own 
raisiDg I think is about the best ever grown, but no doubt I shall learn 
that others think exactly the reverse.—H. S. E. 
Sensitiveness op Earthworms. —In reference to the inquiries of 
“ A. M. B.” relative to the sensitiveness of earthworms, I may say that 
I have often noticed the same thing ; for instance, when employed in 
moving plants in large pots or tubs, if there are worms in the soil they 
will sometimes come to the surface as if alarmed by the rattle of the 
