JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
October 21, 1880. ] 
377 
particularly struck with the fine blooms of the autumn and winter¬ 
flowering Chrysanthemums in the city public gardens ; and when 
referring to those in your columns I drew attention to the desir¬ 
ability of growing the earlier Chrysanthemums in English and 
Irish gardens, so as to bloom during the month of October, and as 
far as possible into November. Usually we have no frost to 
destroy their blooms until the beginning of December in the south 
of Ireland. This was so last year, and I had some splendid blooms 
before that time. This year, if no severe frost comes before that 
time (and it will take several degrees to injure Chrysanthemums 
grown outside), I hope to have the blooming over of those outside. 
—W. J. M., Clonmel. 
MORE ABOUT POTATOES. 
In' your issue of October 14th your correspondent Mr. R. W. 
Beachey, under the above heading, seems to me to be prejudiced 
against Scotch Champion and Magnum Bonum. He, however, 
begins by giving them an excellent character for quantity, and 
I think he is unreasonable to expect good quality regardless of 
the soil they are planted in. I should like to know a Potato 
with such a recommendation. These Potatoes are evidently not 
suited to Mr. Beachey’s soil, so that if he can obtain any which 
will similarly resist disease I should advise him to make a change. 
My experience of them is that they will do well on a great variety 
of soils, being more accommodating in this respect than any other 
variety with which I am acquainted, the Magnum Bonum standing 
first. 
A short time since I had the pleasure of lifting both varieties, 
and the additional pleasure of eating them very soon after they 
were lifted, under which circumstance I was sirrprised to find 
how good the flavour was ; and this may be accounted for by the 
fact that the soil was very free. I have no doubt that in more 
retentive soil they would require storing before the flavour would 
be so good. 
The crops were good and free from disease. The haulms of 
the Magnum Bonums were quite dead, but not those of the Scotch 
Champions. I, however, thought it wiser to take them up in fine 
dry weather than wait for the decay of the haulms, by which 
time I feared wet weather might arrive and disease follow. 
Snowflake 1 have tried, but on rather tenacious soil, and found 
it so watery and flavourless that I did not grow it again. I have 
also tried several other varieties, but none have given me such 
great satisfaction as Magnum Bonum and Scotch Champion. Of 
the two I prefer Magnum Bonum, which is, I think, less liable 
to disease, suitable to a wider range of soils, and the tubers are 
of a handsome and more economical shape, add to which the 
important quality of earlier maturity. 
I am of opinion that many Potatoes are unjustly condemned 
owing to their being tried on a soil unsuitable to them. I also 
think that there are very few varieties which, although they may 
succeed fairly well on retentive soil, do not prefer and pay better 
for growing on good free-working soil.—M. AnAROYD. 
WORKj0fi THE WEEK,. 
VjT 
1 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Wherever it may be intended to form plantations of young fruit 
trees, whether to be trained to walls or grown as standards, the 
ground should now be prepared for their reception. Soils having a 
heavy and retentive subsoil will require thorough and effective 
drainage ; some light soils equally requite draining to dislodge water 
from the subsoil, whilst soils resting upon gravel will probably not 
need it. It is useless attempting to grow fruit trees without efficient 
drainage to aid the percolation of water through the soil. For trees 
against walls nothing pays so well as a properly prepared border. 
If the soil beyond a few inches at the top be little better than brick 
clay the good surface soil should be laid aside, and as much of the 
clay removed as will give a depth of 30 inches ; one half of the clay 
being burned will form an admirable substance to mix with the other 
half, and the surface soil forming, if the latter be turfy, an admirable 
compost for the roots of fruit trees without any addition of manure ; 
but if the surface soil has been under crops an addition of fresh turfy 
loam will be decidedly advantageous. To prevent the roots pene¬ 
trating the under strata the bottom may be concreted and sloping 
from the wall to the drain ; 6 inches of rubble for drainage, secured 
by a layer of turves grass side downwards, will form a foundation 
too seldom laid, the compost being put in about 9 inches higher than 
the intended level to allow for settling. A 6-feet border for walls 
10 feet in height, and 8 feet for those over 12 feet, is ample if that part 
is kept entirely for the trees ; their roots are not then mutilated by 
frequent digging consequent on cropping with vegetables, which 
prevents the surface-rooting of the trees, the employment of mulch¬ 
ings, and the supply of liquid manure as may be necessary. The roots 
are then under perfect control, as when they have extended beyond 
the limit of the border proper any excessive luxuriance may be 
checked by cutting off the roots without giving a check to the trees, 
as would be the case with the roots deep and wide in a cropped 
border. Light sandy soils should have a liberal addition of turfy 
loam and well pulverised clay or marl. Manure is best applied at 
the surface, for in the soil it finally becomes a close inert mass. 
Soils deficient in calcareous matter will be benefited by the addition 
of a tenth part of old mortar rubbish or chalk. The trees can be 
planted as soon as the leaves have fallen, or if they have not to be 
moved any great distance as soon as the wood is ripe and the foliage 
showing indications of falling, and care must be taken to keep 
them as short a time out of the soil as possible. Planters should by 
this time have selected their trees, and must see when the time 
arrives that they are carefully lifted, the roots kept from exposure 
to the air, the trees carefully packed and forwarded with as little 
delay as possible. Avoid the “laying-in” process by planting them 
directly they arrive, spreading out the roots carefully and treading 
moderately, forming a basin if the ground be so dry as to admit of a 
good watering being given, which will tend to settle the soil about the 
roots. In this state they may remain a few days, when the basin 
should be filled and the soil be trodden firmly about the trees, 
securing them loosely to walls or trellises, or employ stakes where 
necessary, completing the operation with a mulching of partially 
decayed manure around the stems and outwards as far as the roots 
extend. Any vacancies that may exist upon walls, espaliers, &c., 
should have the ground prepared for filling them up with young 
trees by removing a considerable portion of the old soil, and supply- 
iig fresh turfy loam and such other substance as may be deemed 
necessary. It is always advisable to plant on slightly raised hillocks? 
especially where the soil is heavy. Where root-pruning may be 
deemed necessary to check excessive luxuriance, and to induce the 
formation of fruit spurs, it should be performed as soon as the wood 
becomes sufficiently firm to avoid shrivelling. Any useless or un¬ 
necessary shoots may be cut out of all fruit trees now instead of 
deferring it until the leaves have fallen, for as soon as the fruit is 
gathered the light and air thereby admitted will assist the ripening 
of the spurs and wood for next season’s bearing. 
FRUIT HOUSES. 
Vines .—Where late varieties of Grapes are grown in quantity to 
meet the demand up to May the necessity for very early forcing to 
have Grapes all the year round is not essential. Of all late Grapes 
Lady Downes’ is the most valuable, being a sure cropper and excellent 
keeper, keeping fresh and plump up to the end of May. When grown 
and ripened in strong heat the Muscat flavour is more pronounced 
than when grown comparatively cool. Next to this may be placed 
Gros Colman, magnificent in berry and bunch, and when well ripened 
it is first-rate. Gros Guillaume when well grown is a grand Grape, the 
two last requiring more time to colour and ripen than any other. 
Alicante requires heat to ripen it thoroughly, and invariably finishes 
and keeps well. West’s St. Peter’s is a fine Grape, and when well 
ripened will keep until April. Alnwick Seedling is likely to be a 
welcome addition. Trebbiano and Calabrian Raisin, with Syrian, are 
the best white companions, and when well ripened are of fair flavour. 
When the above or some of them are not grown in quantity prepara¬ 
tion must be made for early forcing. The Vines having been pruned 
and the loose bark stripped off dress the rods with a solution of soft 
soap, 1 lb. to half a gallon of water, adding half a gallon of tobacco 
juice and as much sulphur as will bring it to the consistency of thin 
cream. If there be any mealy bug or scale add two wineglassfuls of 
spirits of turpentine, and brush it well into every hole, angle, or 
