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November 16, 1882. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
451 
it much encourage a downward tendency in the roots. It was 
not a question of making a new border ; what we had to do was 
to make the most of or renovate the old one. 
It appears “A. B. C.” would have added to the drainage, so 
as to make the border more shallow, and in my opinion would 
thereby have greatly injured the border by over-draining. I pre¬ 
ferred an extra foot of soil to one of drainage, but it does not 
necessarily follow that I advocate the formation of deep new 
borders for fruit trees. On the contrary, for some months past I 
had set myself to write upon the subject of forming both shallower 
and narrower borders, but “ A. B. C.” anticipated me ; yet I may 
still publish my ideas on the subject. 
Perhaps I was wrong in asserting there is a danger generally 
in lifting the trees annually. At the time I was thinking of our 
Peach houses, where I am confident under the circumstances it is 
both impracticable and unnecessary to lift annually. “ A. B. C.” 
must surely err in stating (page 405), “ Lifting three trees in a 
house, say, 60 feet in length occupies no more time than top¬ 
dressing the border.” His must be a case of partial lifting. If 
he does the same as Mr. Bardney—viz., digs up his trees and 
transplants, he is favoured with most excellent labourers. That 
Mr. Bardney is most successful in his practice I can and have 
borne testimony, but I also happen to know he is fortunate in 
having an unlimited supply of water, and which can be applied at 
a minimum cost in the shape of labour. What if others imitated 
his practice of digging up without being either in a position to be 
able at all times to give abundance of moisture to the roots ? In 
this case it would be to a certain extent risky, as if the necessarily 
much-reduced balls became dry, the same as frequently happens 
with newly potted plants under the same conditions, a partial 
failure must inevitably result. 
I repeat, annual lifting is quite unnecessary and may be risky. 
I hold it is a better plan to lift a few trees every season rather 
than lift all every third year, and to trust to the annual top- 
dressings and abundance of moisture at all times to keep the roots 
near the surface. The whole of our borders will shortly have the 
surface soil cleared off so as to bare the roots, and on these will 
be disposed a top-dressing of loam, short manure, and wood ashes. 
This during next season will be thoroughly taken possession of 
by the roots, and I have every confidence in securing valuable 
crops of fruits from all the trees. 
The Vine border, which it will be remembered I stated is com¬ 
posed exclusively of brick ends, mortar rubbish, bones, and char¬ 
coal, was formed by Mr. Challis, the very able gardener at Wilton 
House near Salisbury. It is one out of several formed in low 
forcing houses, which are planted permanently in preference to 
fruiting Vines in pots, this preventing hard forcing in the larger 
vineries. The Vines in this border have necessarily to be more 
frequently watered, and, as before stated, look even more vigorous 
than, and are said to be quite as profitable as, those planted in the 
usual compost. Beyond this at present I can say but little, as my 
visit was unfortunately of much too short duration. I alluded 
to the curiously constructed Vine border in order to strengthen 
my argument with regard to the employment of what “A. B. C.” 
terms rubbish in the composition of Peach borders, as there does 
not appear to be a marked difference in the respective require¬ 
ments of Vines and Peach trees. Shallow well-drained borders 
such as “ A. B. C.” prefers, coupled with annual lifting, neither 
require root-formers nor aerating, but as our case is totally dif¬ 
ferent we prefer not to separate the brick ends from the mortar 
rubbish.— W. Iggulden. 
[The difference between our correspondents arises entirely from 
the differing conditions of the trees and soil. While those in 
charge of “ A. B. C.” and Mr. Bardney may be lifted without any 
risk whatever, Mr. Iggulden would have acted unwisely to have 
wholly uprooted the old neglected specimens which he is endea¬ 
vouring to renovate. Having seen all the trees referred to we 
have an advantage over our contributors, both of whom are excel¬ 
lent cultivators, and are thus able to settle the point at issue.] 
CULTURE OF THE TUBEROSE. 
There are several varieties of Tuberose, such as the pale yellow, 
white, and double white African and American ; it is, however, 
unnecessary to enter into details as to these, for we have grown 
all and found the same treatment suitable for each variety. To 
maintain a long succession of bloom it is best to procure bulbs at 
different seasons, say early in autumn and again in spring. There 
is no difficulty in getting these to flower ; in fact, their treatment 
is very simple indeed. Pot them as soon as received in a 32-size 
pot, placing three or four bulbs in each pot, according to the size 
of the bulbs, or two or three in a 48-pot. The soil should consist 
of good turfy loam, leaf soil, and sand, pressing it down firmly 
round the bulbs. After the pots are full of roots watering with 
liquid manure is an advantage ; a small quantity of guano placed 
in the water we find very beneficial. Pot the bulbs in the above 
soil, and plunge in ashes in a cold frame. After being in this 
position for a few weeks they may be placed in bottom heat if 
desired to flower at once, or they may be introduced in batches 
so as to prolong the flowering season. The principal point to 
observe is not to give the tops too much heat, or they will be 
sure to draw up weakly and prove almost worthless. A brisk 
bottom heat of 65° or 70°, with plenty of ventilation night and 
day, will soon start all the bulbs into flower. 
By keeping them in different temperatures the early autumn 
batch may be made to last till the early spring ones succeed them, 
the treatment being the same. Keep them in frames till growth 
commences, then plunge them in bottom heat, having the roots 
warm and the tops cool. They may be placed out of doors 
when all danger of frost is past, and by so doing a long succession 
of bloom may be obtained. They will grow and flower freely in 
an ordinary greenhouse after the flower-stems appear.—J. Smith, 
Mentmore, 
At a general meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society, 
held on Tuesday at South Kensington, Colonel R. Trevor Clarke 
in the chair, the following candidates were duly elected Fellows— 
viz., J. E. Lewis Boultbee ; Adhae Singh Gom, Assist.-Commis- 
sioner, Central Provinces, India; James Loomes, and William 
Warren. 
- The proposed Pink Show is postponed for the present 
on account of the exceeding paucity of cultivators who might be 
counted on to exhibit Pinks in London in June, 1883. The pro¬ 
moters of the Exhibition held a brief conference at South Kensing¬ 
ton on Tuesday last, and agreed that while there would be no 
difficulty in obtaining the needful funds, there might be great 
difficulty in obtaining the needful flowers. It is satisfactory to 
hear that considerable interest in the Pink has been aroused, and 
it may be found an agreeable task to organise a show for 1884. 
- We are informed that there is a very fine display of 
Chrysanthemums in the Pine Apple Nursery, including 
many varieties that have not hitherto been seen in bloom in this 
country. 
- The handsome specimen of MasdevAlliA tovarensis 
shown last week at the Brixton Chrysanthemum Show by Mr. 
Salter, gardener to J. Southgate, Esq., Selborne, Streatham, 
proved the great value of this species admirably, as it had about 
five dozen of its pure white flowers, though growing in a pot of 
moderate size—about 6 inches in diameter. It is unquestionably 
the freest of all the Masdevallias, and it is surprising what small 
pieces will produce flowers. When associated with some of the 
richer-coloured species, such as M. Lindeni or M. Harryana, it 
has an excellent effect. The flowers are also useful for bouquets 
and buttonholes. 
- Mr. J. Clarke sends us the following note on the new 
Pea General Garfield :—“ A valuable addition to our list of 
new Peas will be found in Suttons’ General Garfield, the haulm 
being laden with handsome pods containing eight or ten large 
peas in each pod of excellent quality. It will prove a fine Pea for 
the exhibition table, while its hardy constitution enables it to a 
certain degree to resist the mildew.” 
- A correspondent writes as follows relative to mixing 
flowers :—“ We have a house filled with white and yellow 
Chrysanthemums—Mrs. G. Rundle and Mr. G. Glenny and the 
effect far surpasses any mixture of colours I have seen. A house 
