December 11, 1896. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AXD COTTAGE GARDE XER. 
511 
yol. xvi. new series, page 111, wiites:—“ Some fungi, if tlieir myce¬ 
lium occupy the soil, seem to do little injury to crops, but others seem 
to tolerate no rivals. We lately mentioned that some Cucumbers 
that bore heavily about Christmas se?med all at once to have lost 
their vigour, which they generally do when fruited hard before the 
turn of the day ; but in taking them out we found another evil, 
half an inch or so beneath the surface of the soil and for a depth of 
- or 3 inches the bed was a mass of thready spawn, and this we have 
no doubt was the result of using leaf mould as a component part of 
a rich top dressing. As far as this spawn extended the roots were 
unhealthy. We believe that thousands of fruit trees, Vines, &c., 
have suffered by an excess of kindness through using half-decayed 
leaves in the compost of the borders. Mildew—mark the term— 
on the roots becomes then more dangerous than mildew on the 
twigs and leaves. Quicklime is a great enemy to all the fungus 
tribe that we have come in contact with, but a fiery heat seems to 
be the most successful opponent. A mild gentle heat, such as the 
heat of a Mushroom bed, seems most to promote their extension. 
Heaps collected from old shrubberies and woodlands are much 
more liable to fungus than the fresh-fallen leaves of the present 
season, though even they and their change in leaf mould are to be 
watched. A good heat in a hotbed will make them safe for the 
crops accelerated and safe afterwards.” This is a very remarkable 
statement—a combination of practice with science, for there is not 
only a cause but a remedy suggested : but it was advanced before 
iron was broached in this country as a remedy for fungoid diseases. 
The Cucumbers failed because of the softness of their tissues—the 
lack of mineral matter to harden their epidermis, whereby they 
are able to withstand their fungoid enemies. There is the leaf 
mould, the manure, and the soil itself—turf. Now, turf usually 
contains little mineral matter of the order resisting fungi id germs ; 
indeed, so poor is it in sand that a sixth is added for pot plants, and 
a goodly amount of grit, road scrapings, or old mortar rubbish for 
fruit trees, also for Cucumbers and Melons ; and sometimes wood 
ashes, the mineral remains of plants. These admixtures are most 
salutary—indeed, they are essential. Practice has proved their 
'value. 
The disease in Melons and Cucumber stems and in their fruits 
is of a fungoid nature, partaking of the character of ferments, and 
comes in with organic matter, or a defect of inorganic, it may be 
phosphoric acid and sulphuric acid to energise the protoplasmic 
forces or of silica, lime and iron to strengthen their cell walls and 
epidermal tissues. But phosphorus, sulphur, iron, potash, lime, 
magnesia, soda, silica, chlorine are no use in those forms, and only 
as they are made available as food of plants. Even iron pyrites 
are of no good, they cannot, however, resist acids, and organic acids 
are Nature’s mineral solvents. These cause the iron to give some 
of its store for the plant in a form it takes in by its root hairs. 
Dr. Griffiths states that iron sulphate acts on the “ microparasitic 
cellulose” caused by the “fungus which produces nodular out¬ 
growth upon the roots of the Cucumber, bur not the cellulose of 
the plants,” and goes on to say, “ the spores of the fungus, which 
are extremely small, are found in the soils, where Cucumbers have 
grown, in the autumn and early winter, ha\ing been liberated by 
the rotting of the root nodules. These spores retain their vitality 
for months, and are capable of attacking the new seedlings planted 
in such soil. The spores are easily disseminated by such agencies 
as air, soils and streams. The Cucumber root fungus is completely 
destroyed by iron sulphate.”—(Manures and their uses, pages 141 
and 142).—G. Abbey. 
(To be continued.) 
A GARDENING TOUR IN IRELAND. 
During the past two months a rapid succession of fruit con¬ 
ferences and exhibitions, with the multitude of Chrysanthemum 
shows only just concluded, has kept me so closely occupied that the 
execution of a promise made some time ago to friends and readers 
of this Journal has been considerably delayed. "When I returned 
from my journey in Ireland a brief resume was given in these 
pages of general impressions, and this was followed later on at the 
Crystal Palace Conference by a condensed review of the aspects 
and prospects of fruit culture in the Sister Isle. Now, however, 
a little more leisure will permit a detailed reference to what I 
found a very enjoyable and interesting tour, and several reminders 
from correspondents both here and on the other side of the Irish 
Sea have prompted me to relate more fully the particulars of the 
journey, the routes taken, and the gardens visited. The fact is 
that much could be written concerning Irish gardens, for in the 
first place most of those of any note are very picturesquely 
situated, and the climate, as I have previously remarked, is 
admirably adapted to the growth of trees and shrubs, so that the 
most important features in parks or extensive gardens are nearly 
always strongly marked there. Secondly, whatever may be said 
respecting farming or the general culture of the land, gardening is 
in the groat maj mty of cases well carried out in private establish¬ 
ments. Of course there have been the same difficulties to contend 
with there as here—namely, the decrease of proprietors’ incomes 
has led to reduction in garden staffs and expenditure in many cases, 
and the gardener’s skill has in consequence been often seriously 
taxed to meet the altered circumstances. A resolute and able man 
does not, however, readily submit to be overcome by difficulties such 
as these, and the result is that both in keeping and productiveness 
gardens in Ireland will bear comparison with those in England or 
Scotland, where the labour and expenditure correspond in some 
degree. This opinion is not founded upon a partial survey of any 
one district, but upon evidence afforded by establishments visited 
i from the north of Antrim to Cork in the south. Not only is this 
the case, but the enthusiasm and interest in gardening matters 
amongst the experienced practitioners is equally as great as here, 
though it is not fostered by so many opportunities of meeting in 
friendly competition as Great Britain. The amateur cultivators, 
too, are not so numerous in proportion as here, but there are indica¬ 
tions of an advance in this direction, and considerable aid is being 
: afforded by gentlemen in different districts who are fully conscious 
how much can be effected by increased attention to horticulture, 
i In no part of the United Kingdom could more good be accom¬ 
plished by the extension of horticultural skill and practice iuto the 
domain of the farmer than in Ireland, and wherever this fact has 
been grasped a material improvement is evident. To soma of 
these matters I shall have occasion to refer again, and in the mean¬ 
time I will describe the route adopted and the first calls by the 
way. 
Several modes of reaching Ireland were suggested by friends, 
and that especially rec mrmended where a long sea voyage is not 
objected to was via Milford Haven and Waterford or Cork. The 
date fixed, however, for the meeting at Leicester rendered it 
difficult and inconvenient to proceed that way. The other alter¬ 
natives were by Holyhead to Dublin—the usual route—or via 
Stranraer and Larne to Belfast. As it was decided to commence 
explorations in the north of Ireland aud journey south so as to 
avoid as far as possible travelling twice over the same ground, the 
Stranraer route was adopted as the most convenient, and as regards 
time this was also most suitable, as it enabled us to leave Leicester 
shortly before 10 P.M., and reach Ireland next morning in time for 
a clear day's work. There, however, the advantage ended, for it 
was one of the most uncomfortable journeys I have ever endured. 
The train accommodation was bad, though it is rare that fault can 
be found with the Midland Company in this respect. It necessitated 
two changes with all the inconvenience of removing luggage, Ac, 
and beyond that for a great portion of the distance we had un¬ 
pleasant travelling companions. Some satisfaction was, however, 
found in the fact that afer leaving Dumfries the sun rose in a clear 
sky and revealed some much more pleasing scenery in Kirkcud¬ 
bright and Wigtonshire than I had expected to see. This was 
really enjoyable, and helped to compensate for other disadvantages, 
though it is not a route I would recommend to anyone who wishes 
to proceed direct to Ireland, as a portion of a tour through the 
lake district it would be a different matter. The short sea trip 
from Stranraer to Larne is a great recommendation to some 
travellers, and on a clear day with a brisk fresh breeze, as on the 
day I crossed it, is as delightful a passage as could be desired, the 
Scottish coast scenery being good, an extensive view of the fine 
Antrim coast is also obtained, with a distant glimpse of the 
peculiar Ailsa Craig, which rises from the sea like a column to the 
height of over 1000 feet. 
Having landed at Larne, it is optional to proceed direct to 
the north by train, or to visit Belfast first ; the latter course was 
adopted, and after a brief stay the journey was resumed soon after 
11 a.m. to the north of Antrim, Coleraine and the Giant's Cause¬ 
way being the destinations. This afforded the first opportunity of 
a general view of the land cultivation and crops, and a very favour¬ 
able impression it created, for a large portion of the country passed 
through would rank with the best cultivated land in Ireland, and 
would, in fact, compare favourably with many districts in England. 
The prevailing crops are of course very different, and it seems at 
first as if all the country is entirely under grass, or, as it was at 
the time of my visit, under hay. That a large space is so occupied 
i is shown by the agricultural returns, for in Antiim alone, out of 
a total cultivated area of 245,000 acres, over 100,000 acres are 
devoted to bay, either as permanent pasture or rotation. How 
well the climate and the land suit the grass is proved by the large 
return, and judging by the amount of hay in the fields in large 
conical mounds, it would be thought that the weight per acre 
would be nearly double what is seen in England. I am informed, 
however, that the average is about 21 tons per acre, 
t Another very striking feature to a stranger is the Flax crop, 
