336 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 18,18S3. 
firming of sucli soil highly beneficial in inducing sturdy growth 
— i.e., short-jointed thoroughly solidified growth. 
Manure should be avoided, as the mixing of manure of any 
kind, leaf soil or other vegetable matter (except it be charred 
refuse) only tends to force wood, and young trees grow quite fast 
enough for the laying of the foundation of a healthy and fruitful 
specimen. In all cases of poorness of soil a top-dressing is the 
best method of enriching the soil, so that the rain may carry the 
liberated juices down to the roots, these latter being encouraged 
to the surface by the mulching of short manure, and this should 
be kept moist in summer by watering with liquid manure during 
dry weather. 
Soils that are not only light and thin, resting on sand or a 
gravelly bottom, are the most difficult to deal with, as from the 
openness of the soil the trees suffer much from drought, making 
but a poor growth in the summer, and in autumn if it and the 
late summer be wet, growth takes place, which does not ripen 
kindly, and the consequence is the trees are much subject to 
canker, and this is attributed to the roots having passed into the 
sand or gravel, whereas it is the unripe condition of the wood 
consequent upon the late growths. There should be a good 
addition of clay or marl to such soils when the ground is 
trenched, chopping it into small pieces, and mixing it 
thoroughly with the lower portion of the soil as the work 
proceeds. It renders the soil more retentive of moisture in dry 
weather, and it is remarkable how tenaciously the roots seek 
and cling to it. Still more apparent is the healthy appearance 
of the foliage of the trees, and the steady progress of both fruit 
and foliage in dry periods, whilst those that are not so treated 
show by their flaccid foliage and checking of the growth the 
distress they labour under. 
The practice of making a bottom for the trees at the stations 
where they are to be planted of brickbats and old mortar rubbish 
may answer some purpose. What ? If to keep the roots from 
striking down into the subsoil it must be very inefficient for the 
purpose, as nothing short of concrete will do so effectually; and 
if for drainage, it is certainly only a very poor apology for that 
efficient drainage which consists in removing all water beyond 
the soil’s retentive power within 30 inches of the surface. It is 
only poverty and drought at the surface that causes the roots to 
strike down in quest of moisture. Moisture itself is not an evil; 
it is when it is allowed to become stagnant that the mischief 
is done. Instead of these receptacles for holding water it is 
far better to drain thoroughly with tiles, and if the soil be 
naturally wet, plant on raised mounds; in fact, trees do badly 
more frequently through deep planting than any other cause, 
and should be studiously avoided.—G. Abbey. 
WHICH IS THE BEST LATE PEA? 
This is a good time to ascertain from the multitude of varieties which 
Tinder the greatest difference of climate, soil, treatment, and circum¬ 
stances gave the greatest satisfaction. In the absence of a Pea congress 
or election we look to the gardening journals for information. I have 
had a wide field of observation lately from Cork to Dublin to gather the 
views of others, and this seems to be the general conclusion in the majority 
of cases. Ne Plus Ultra is very generally grown, and holds a well-esta¬ 
blished reputation among Marrows when sown the first half of the month 
of May. A few had either heard of or grown Mr. Laxton’s new Pea Evolu¬ 
tion, Sutton’s Latest of All, Kelway’s Bruce Findlay, and Carters’ Tele¬ 
phone, but none of those was grown as largely or spoken of as highly as 
Carters’ Stratagem. Personally I have found the quality excellent up to 
the present, and when planted on rich soil and in an exposed position 
there is no risk of mildew. It requires plenty of room and a deep soil. 
It is surprising the depth the roots will travel for nutriment; the foliage 
is rich glossy dark green grown thus, and it has the further great advan¬ 
tage, that when fully exposed and grown robustly it requires little 
Btaking. Of wrinkled Peas I found few to excel Bruce Findlay this year. 
For latest use I am not sure if Ne Plus Ultra is not still the best. 
Larger growers may be able to throw light on the point.—W. J. M., 
Clonmel. 
LIFTING AND STORING GLADIOLI. 
This is a matter requiring immediate attention, and upon which the 
best authorities seem to disagree. That veteran grower “ D., Deal," 
would place each corm in a flower pot to ripen towards the end of this 
month or the beginning of the next, while Mr. J. Douglas advocates 
cutting off the plants close to the crown of the bulb at once. I have 
grown the choicer Gladioli long, and watched the results with consider¬ 
able keenness, but I must confess I cannot agree with Mr. Douglas’s 
recommendation. I plant from the end of February to the first week in 
April at intervals, and there is none now ripe or withered but G. 
brenchleyensis, and whether it is lifted or left in the ground that variety 
lives readily through the winter. I consider that when frost comes 
towards the end of this month growth has ceased, but maturation, or 
ripening of the corms,has only commenced. If left in the ground, and 
that they are sufficiently deep, with the winter mild and soil porous, a 
choice variety may escape, but those who grow rare and expensive 
hybrids will run no such risk. When lifted, how can maturation take 
place if the stem is cut away quite green ? If Mr. Douglas maintains that 
no injury accrues to the corm by cutting away the stem, our positions 
will be intelligible. It would be well if there was an expression of 
opinion on the point, as possibly it may be the explanation of the 
mystery—the Gladiolus failure so many complain of. As often stated in 
the Journal, my plan is to lift the corms and let the process of ripening 
or maturation then slowly take place. Leave the labels attached to the 
stems, no clay usually remains attached, the spawn are undisturbed, 
plenty of river sand is procured just immediately before it is required, so 
as to be moist—this is within the reach of most people. I am particular 
about the sand being moist. The plants as lifted are then placed on a 
dry loft uprightly, the sand placed around the corms ; sand, corms, and 
stems then slowly dry out, and a month or two after, when examined at 
leisure, I venture to say every corm will be as hard as a bullet, and not 
one gone. Everyone may therefore grow Gladioli so far as winter risks 
are concerned.—W. J. Murphy. 
THE NATIONAL APPLE CONGRESS. 
Visitors to the great Apple Show at Chiswick have found ample- 
material for study and reflection. Those especially who have large collec¬ 
tions or who are about to plant extensively have been well rewarded for 
their journey. No better opportunity could have been afforded of com¬ 
paring the characters of the numerous varieties, and whether the cultiva¬ 
tor requires large and handsome or richly coloured varieties he has had 
abundant facilities by making a selection. It is true that there is one impor¬ 
tant quality that could not be ascertained by these exhibits, and that is 
the freedom with which the several varieties bear; but a means of deter¬ 
mining the value is furnished by the number of exhibitors from different 
districts who stage them in good condition. For example, there are 
some Apples, such as Peasgood’s Nonesuch, which are almost equally good 
from a great number of widely separated counties, and in these cases it 
may be safely concluded that the variety is a reliable one in all the impor¬ 
tant characters. In the official report which is to be ultimately issued under 
the direction of the Committee, these facts will be probably tabulated, so 
that it will be seen at a glance which are the most general favourites, and 
valuable information will thus be furnished to Apple growers. To aid iir 
rendering the official report still more valuable circulars are being issued 
to all the exhibitors, requesting them to describe the situation on which 
the varieties shown have been grown, soil, subsoil, stocks, character of 
tree, best twelve culinary varieties for the district, the same number of 
dessert varieties, with any general remarks hearing upon the subject. 
That the majority w T ill fillup and return these forms may be reasonably 
expected, and as about 130 growers will be consulted a mass of valuable- 
information will be obtained, that when digested and arranged will consti¬ 
tute a compendium of Apple lore never before equalled. It is, however* 
probable that the public may have some time to wait for this, as the work 
will necessarily be great, and must be thoroughly done to be of any 
benefit. In the meantime, therefore, a few selections may be given of the- 
typical varieties, commencing with the 
LARGEST AND MOST HANDSOME APPLES. 
Two of the largest specimens in the Exhibition are of Gloria Mundi, 
one in the Middlesex collection, which is nearly 14 inches in circumfer¬ 
ence, and weighed when cut 1 lb. 2 ozs.; the other is in the Sawbridge- 
worth collection under the name of Belle Dubois, and is very similar in 
size, but not quite so deep. Some fine examples of Lord Suffield also 
equal the dimensions of the first named, Alfriston coming very near, 
and perhaps in several cases exceeding it in weight, while Loddington is 
equally notable in a number of collections. The following include all the 
large and handsome Apples most numerously representedAnnie Eliza¬ 
beth, Bedfordshire Foundling, Betty Geeson, Blenheim Pippin, Catshead, 
Cellini, Claygate’s Pearmain, Cox’s Pomona, Dumelow’s Seedling, Dutch 
Codlin, Ecklinville, Emperor Alexander, Gloria Mundi (Belle Dubois), 
Golden Noble, Golden Spire, Gravenstein, Grenadier, Hanwell Souring, 
Harvey Apple (shown as Dr. Harvey), Hollandbury, Irish Giant, Kentish 
Fillbasket, Keswick Codlin, Lady Henniker, Landsberger Reinette, 
Lane’s Prince Albert, Lewis’s Incomparable, Lord Derby, Lord 
Grosvenor, Lord Suffield, Manx Codlin, Peasgood’s Nonesuch, Queen 
Caroline, Reinette de Canada, Round Winter Nonesuch, Royal Russet, 
Scarlet Admirable, Shepherd’s Fame, Stirling Castle, Tower of Glamis, 
Waltham Abbey Seedling, Warner’s King, Washington, and Winter Haw- 
thornden. Two very handsome Apples may be added to these, one a new 
variety that is represented well in a few collections—namely, The Queen, 
which is particularly good in Messrs. Saltmarsh’s and Messrs. Bunyard’s 
stands. The other is Grand Duke Constantine, which we only observed 
in Messrs. R. Smith’s contribution. It is not, however, a new variety, 
though a very beautiful one, being of great size and finely streaked with- 
rich crimson. It is of Russian origin, but does not appear to be much 
grown in England, though it is well worthy of attention. 
THE RICHEST-COLOURED APPLES. 
In no quality is there so great a range of variation as in the colour of the- 
Apples shown, of course taking them generally. The southern exhibits 
are of the richest tints ; hut amongst these, samples of the same variety 
from one county, and even from neighbouring gardens, differ greatly in 
brightness. Climate and latitude undoubtedly exert the chief effect, but 
that much is'due to soil is observable in many instances. A striking 
