December 7, 1882. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
525 
- Referring- to SutTONS’ Green Curled Savoy Mr. J. 
Clarke, Brynkinalt, writes—“ This Savoy may undoubtedly be 
termed the mainstay of our kitchen gardens for winter use. It 
can be planted in almost any soil with success, but where extra 
large heads are in demand the soil can hardly be too rich or 
the situation too good. Where medium-sized heads are re¬ 
quired I usually plant 15 inches apart each way. I have a 
grand crop here now, about 1500 plants, all with heads of useful 
size, large enough for any purpose. I usually plant in different 
aspects, so as to insure a good supply successively, which with 
the above variety I find no difficulty whatever to maintain. 
Growers for market purposes will do well to give this variety a 
trial.” 
- We regret to learn that after a long and useful career the 
monthly horticultural periodical, “ The Gardener,” published 
by Messrs. Blackwood & Sons, ceases with the issue for December. 
Under the editorship of Mr. David Thomson the valuable prac¬ 
tical instruction contained in this work has been welcome to 
many gardeners in Great Britain, but in this fast age a month 
was too long for them to wait for gardening information however 
sound it might be. 
CARROT AND PARSLEY DIFFICULTIES. 
I have been very much troubled this last season by Carrots 
and Parsley proving a total failure here. Seeing my first sowing 
of Carrots a failure I prepared another bed in a different part of 
the garden, and mixed the soil, which is very black and stiff, with 
sand and soot, but with no effect, for as soon as the seedlings were 
about an inch above ground they quickly disappeared. I tried 
them a third time, with a similar result. The attack was made by 
a little white worm. I have many times seen Carrots destroyed 
by this insect, but I have never seen a failure like my own this last 
season. Parsley came up freely and grew for a short time, when 
it turned quite yellow. On examining some of the roots I found 
numbers of this little destroyer. However, after about two months 
it started and grew a little. Both crops are greatly in request 
here. Of the former crop I obtained none ; while of the latter, 
the season was far advanced before I had any. The soil is very 
heavy and black, and I think very unsuitable for the culture of 
the Carrot. I have learned several good lessons from your cor¬ 
respondents, and I shall feel much obliged if some of them would 
state their experience of such failures and their best mode of 
destroying this pest.—J. C. 
FRUIT-GROWING ON CHALK SOILS. 
As I have previously stated when writing upon this subject, 
in soils of an extremely chalky nature successful fruit-growing 
is far from being an easy matter, inasmuch as such soils are 
deficient in those chemical elements which are necessary to the 
production of high-class fruit, as well as to the longevity of the 
trees themselves ; indeed, in some districts it is absolutely im¬ 
possible to accomplish anything which has the least semblance of 
success without much trouble and expense. The practical man 
who has to contend with such soils as are here alluded to knows 
only too well the ailments and chief characteristics of the ma jority 
of young fruit trees after they have been planted two or three 
years. Only once allow the roots to get a firm hold of the subsoil, 
and let them remain there undisturbed, then you will experience 
the mortification of seeing the leaves assume that yellow sickly 
appearance which is a sure forerunner of poor crops and also of 
premature death. This applies principally to Peaches and Necta¬ 
rines ; but even such fruits as Apples, Pears, Plums, Cherries, and 
Apricots do not grow in that luxurious way which they do on 
most other soils. 
From the foregoing it must not for a moment be supposed that 
success is impossible. For many evils there are remedies, and so 
there is for the one we are now dealing with. We must, however, 
confess that our remedy is rather a costly and laborious one, but 
on the other hand we would venture to assert that the cost would 
not be thought too much when success is the result. With Peaches 
and Nectarines I would strongly recommend the under-mentioned 
plan. Take out the soil to a depth of 18 inches or 2 feet; concrete 
and drain the bottom ; at a distance of 4 feet from the wall on 
which the trees are to be grown build up from the concrete to 
the ground level a 4^-inch wall — here there is ample space 
for the roots of good-sized trees. The top spit of soil and a 
shovelling should be cast on one side, to be mixed afterwards with 
the new compost, the latter to consist entirely of good turfy loam, 
the best that can be obtained in the locality. With this there 
should be incorporated a little well-decomposed stable manure, 
together with a light sprinkling of half-inch bones. The turf 
should be chopped into rough pieces, and the whole of the compost 
be turned over several times before being wheeled to the border. 
As the work of filling the border proceeds tread down the soil 
firmly. Plant young healthy trees, with their roots not more than 
6 inches from the surface, and give a good mulching of half- 
decayed manure. 
By many this plan will be thought to be rather an expensive 
one, and so it is, I admit; nevertheless there need be no appre¬ 
hension as to the successful results which will ensue. Money well 
spent and work well done will redound to the credit—aye, and 
often to the pleasure—of anyone as long as they live. The follow¬ 
ing varieties may be relied on in districts like those to which these 
remarks are applicable :— Peaches: Early Louise, Early Rivers, 
Early York, Royal George, Dr. Hogg, Sea Eagle, Barrington, 
George IV. (a good old sort, now seldom seen), Prince of Wales, 
Walburton Admirable, Late Admirable, Salwey. The last-named 
is worth growing on account of its lateness, and although it is 
not one of the best-flavoured Peaches it is not to be despised if 
allowed to stand on a shelf in a vinery for about a week after 
being gathered. Nectarines: Rivers’ Orange, Elruge, Violette 
Hative, Pine Apple, Victoria, and Pitmaston Orange. 
Apricots, Plums, and Cherries are not so fastidious as to soil 
and situation as Peaches and Nectarines. They never appear to 
be quite at home in soils where there is an excess of chalk ; those 
who would succeed with them would therefore do well to trench 
the ground 2 feet deep, and let the new compost consist of two 
parts turfy loam, with one part peat and one part well-decomposed 
manure, this to be worked in with the top spit and a shovelling 
of the old soil. It is also essential that where these are grown 
the borders should be well drained. Of Apricots no other sorts 
need be grown than the following three : Moorpark, Hemskirk, 
and Breda. Plums: Coe’s Golden Drop, Green Gage, lekworth 
Impbratrice, Jefferson, Peach, Reine Claude de Bavay, Pond’s 
Seedling, Victoria, Washington, White Magnum Bonum. Cherries: 
May Duke, Black Tartarian, Elton, Early Red Bigarreau, White 
Heart, and Morello. 
We shall now refer to Apples and Pears by simply stating that 
the compost recommended previously will also suit these ; the 
ground also should be trenched to a depth of not less than 2 feet. 
If it is necessary to point out one thing more than another with 
regard to Apples and Pears, it is as to the system on which they 
ought to be grown. Where the best results are desired, by all 
means commence with young trees, and grow them as pyramids 
or dwarf bushes. By so doing, and lifting them periodically, say 
about every three years, far better returns will be had than by 
allowing them to grow into large trees, inasmuch as other crops 
can be grown profitably between the rows without detriment to 
the trees themselves, and in nine cases out of ten it wdl be found 
that the crops of fruit will, in quality and quantity, be such as 
to give the greatest satisfaction. I can confidently commend 
the following sorts of Apples—viz., Early Red Margaret, King of 
the Pippins, Cox’s Orange Pippin, Margil, Old Golden Pippin, 
Blenheim Pippin, Keswick Codlin, Lord Suffield, M6re de Mbnage, 
Cox’s Pomona, Alfriston, Warner’s King. Pears : Jargonelle, 
Citron des Carmes, Beurrd Giffard, Williams’ Bon Chretien, 
Comte de Lamy, Seckle, Marie Louise, Beurrd Clairgeau, Easter 
Beurid, Winter Nelis, Doyenne du Cornice, and Beurrd Bachelier. 
With regard to the compost recommended for Peaches and 
Nectarines, a small quantity of peat ought to be used. I have 
always found the greatest possible benefit accrue from a judicious 
use of peat in fruit culture on chalk soils.— Et Cjetera. 
TYDiEA MADAME HEINE. 
Where decorative flowering plants are required during the 
autumn and winter months few are superior to Tydreas. When 
well grown and cared for they will occupy the same place 
in our stoves in winter as Achimenes do in our conservatories 
during summer. There are now numerous varieties, and many of 
them exceedingly beautiful, but requiring considerable care to have 
them in the best condition during the winter. Many of the varie¬ 
ties are really more adapted for summer flowering, and it is next 
to an impossibility to retard them sufficiently to have them in 
full beauty during the dullest months of the year. This is very 
marked in those kinds that form underground stems, and thus 
allow of being dried off after flowering the same as Achimenes. 
