180 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ March 10, 1892. 
accruing until immeiiately before growth commenced, the same, for 
instance, as at the fall of the leaf, the time usually adopted for such 
operations. 
There are often circumstances beyond the gardener’s control which 
may prevent the work from being attended to at the orthodox time, and 
under such circumstances it is well to act up to the old adage, “ better 
late than never.” I have seen healthy trees lifted from the open walls 
just as the buds were on the point of bursting and replanted immedi¬ 
ately under glass, and the trees carried a fair crop of fruit the same 
season.^ I should naturally look for fuller crops from trees lifted when 
the fruit buds had commenced to move, that is, if the work could not be 
attended to at the fall of the leaf, than if they were lifted at midwinter. 
The growth and root action at the time (spring) indicated is just com¬ 
mencing, and I am certain that there would be no more harmful results 
than would happen to a Fuchsia or any other deciduous plant or tree, 
or even the Vine. 
“ Nous Verrons’ ” views about the extra work involved is more 
imaginary than real, as I am sure he will agree when he thinks the 
subject out further. I do not say that I would recommend lifting the 
trees whilst in full flower, or did I gather from Mr. Iggulden’s article 
that he did, it being simply a passing reference. Whether the trees 
bore any fruit perhaps Mr. Iggulden would oblige us by stating ; but as 
regards healthy growth following I cannot see what could prevent it 
being otherwise. As regards “ Nous Verrons’ ” comments on Mr. 
Iggulden’s recommending the trees being either l.fted or root-pruned 
whilst in full bearing, be certainly could not have been writing seriously. 
I naturally took it to mean at the usual time adopted for such work, 
and not with the fruit and leaves on them. 
I now come to “ Nous Verrons’ ” objections as to the advisability of 
lifting the roots whilst the trees are in full bearing “ order,” please 
mark the term. Here I may say that “ Nous Verrons ” is entirely at 
variance with that “science and good gardening” he is so anxious to 
uphold. Peach growing on open walls is what I take a special pride in, 
and during the past five years we have not missed a crop of fruit—not a 
part of a crop, but a good one. Even “ Nous Verrons ” will admit that 
the quality was good when I state that from these trees fruit was pro¬ 
duced which fetched ISs. per dozen in Covent Garden Market; this was 
the top price, others fetched from 8s. upwards. These prices were in 
the autumn of 1890 when sixteen of the trees were re-lifted, root- 
pruned where necessary, and also received the addition of a little fresh 
loam and wood ashes. Last season fruit from these very trees fetched 
from 8s. to 12s. per dozen, the latter the top price. Fruit being more 
plentiful generally made the difference in the price from the preceding 
season. The remaining four trees were not lifted simply from want of 
time, and my also thinking that they would tide over the season. The 
difference could be seen to a tree. Fruit there was in plenty, but it did not 
finish like those which were operated on, and the foliage also had a 
very yellow cast, which the remainder had not, but which they would 
have had if they had been left alone. Now these trees, I may safely 
say, are in full bearing “order,” but yet if we were to leave them alone 
the trees would very quickly fail. The utmost limit I would leave them 
alone is three seasons, and then they have to be well attended to during 
the growing season. 
In^passing, I may say that “ Nous Verrons ” is “stretching another 
point ” when he states that Mr. Iggulden recommended the roots to be 
manipulated “yearly.” Now I find that in respect to these trees which 
are in “full bearing order” root-lifting must be resorted to if they 
are to be kept in good health, and so not become affected with the 
“yellows,” or disease, or whatever you may like to call it, I find them 
so addicted to on cold soils. Deeply running strong roots we seldom 
find, _but^ opening out a trench 6 feet from the bole of the tree and 
working inwards to 3 feet, also shortening any coarse roots, filling up 
again, and laying the roots out carefully as the soil is being filled in, 
with the additions as stated above, cannot but have a very favourable 
result on the continual well-being of the trees. 
The above is also the practice of other good growers, who are looked 
up to as shining lights in the horticultural world. I fancy that “ Nous 
Verrons ” will find that Mr. Iggulden’s views will receive more practical 
support than he imagines, and will also set some of those “ old fogies ” 
jinking who are afraid to touch even a root, let alone lift either the 
Peach or Vine. In conclusion, I cannot help thinking “ Nous Verrons ” 
has overstepped his case, and that upon consideration he will modify his 
views on the practice he has so valorously assailed.—A. Young. 
Aoberley Gardens, Stonrport. 
With regard to Mr. Iggulden’s remarks on lifting young Peach and 
Nectarine trees in bloom, it would not of course be a practice he or 
anyone else would advise in a general way for many reasons, but that 
transplantation at that stage “ when necessary,” can be carried out with 
good results there is no manner of doubt. Indeed, if the trees have good 
balls, and fibrous roots, and proper after-treatment, I see no reason why 
“ moveable ” trees should suffer by such an operation at any time from 
early spring to autumn. A year or two ago I had occasion to plant a 
border with late Strawberries in front of a wall facing north-west, and 
which I wished to occupy with Plums and Morello Cherries. Being 
loth to disturb the Strawberries after planting I determined to plant 
the wall trees first, which I did with the best results. Both Plums and 
Cherries were from 8 to 9 feet spread, and fan-trained ; these all, as a 
naatter of course, had tood balls of soil with their roots, and were, after 
planting, well soaked with water for three or four days, and also kept 
damp overhead by frequent syringings, The trees in question not only 
retained all their foliage but also a few fruits which happened to be oh 
them at the time, and these matured and ripened. This operation was 
carried out on August 8th, 1887.—J. A. 
Events of the Week. —A meeting of the Brighton and Sussex 
new Horticultural Society takes place to-day (March 10th), and of the 
Royal Botanic Society on the 12th. Auction sales will take place at 
Messrs. Protheroe & Morris’s rooms as follows—Friday, March 11th, at 
half past twelve, choice Orchids, by order of Messrs. Linden, Brussels p 
Monday, March 14th, hardy perennials and Cactus Dahlias, at 11 30 A.M. ; 
Wednesday, March 16th, Liliums, Roses, and other plants, at 11.30 A.M. 
- The Weather.—D uring practically the whole of the past 
week the cold wave referred to in the last issue has been maintained. 
The wind has remained in the north and east, with frost constantly pre¬ 
vailing. There was a slight thaw on the 5th inst., and some appearance 
of a change, but it quickly disappeared, and on the following day, also 
on Monday and Tuesday, the wind was in the east with slight frost 
day and night. Early yesterday (Wednesday) morning 14° of frost 
were registered on the grass near London, but at 5 A.M. the thermo¬ 
meter stood at 31° in the city, the wind had shifted to the south-west, 
and there was every appearance of a change to warmer weather. Later 
in the day snow came with a falling barometer. 
- International Horticultural Exhibition. — Good 
progress is being made in the preparations for the series of horti¬ 
cultural exhibitions to be held during the season at Earl’s Court 
Kensington. The General Committee met on Tuesday last, Mr. W. 
Marshall, in the absence of Mr. H. E. Milner, presiding. Draft schedules 
were revised, a substantial amount being allocated in prizes, those for the 
great May Show amounting to about £750. The classes are numerous 
and representative, and may be expected to ensure the best competition. 
- Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution.— Mr. George 
J. Ingram, Secretary of this Institution, Writes from 50, Parliament 
Street, London, S.W. :—“Kindly announce in your next issue that our 
fifty-third anniversary festival dinner will take place on Wednesday, 
June 29th, 1892, at the Whitehall Rooms, Hotel M^tropole, on which 
occasion Sir Julian Goldsmid, Bart., M.P., has kindly consented to 
preside, and that I shall be pleased to hear from gentlemen willing to 
act as stewards.” 
- The Gardeners’ Orphan Fund.—T he meeting of gardeners 
of the Kingston District to which we referred last week was held in the 
Albany Hall on Saturday evening last. There was a capital response to 
the circular issued, and a large attendance. Mr. E. Burrell, the esti- 
able gardener to the Duchess of Albany at Claremont, was unanimously 
elected Chairman, and Mr. A. Dean Secretary. The latter, on the 
invitation of the Chairman, gave a full exposition, first as to the nature 
and objects of the Orphan Fund, and secondly the special objects of the 
meeting—viz., to endeavour to organise a concert in aid of the Fund. It 
was unanimously agreed that the concert should be given, that it should 
be shortly after Easter, and that a sub-committee be appointed to carry 
out the object, consisting of Messrs. Burrell, A. Dean, Austen, Jea), 
Herbst, Cox, Cullimore, Martin, Walker, jun.. Ward, and Hawkes. Mr. 
Dean placed his house at the disposal of the Committee for meetings, 
which offer was cordially accepted. 
- Celery and the Frosts.— I read with some surprise of the 
state in which “ M. H., Somerset ” found his Celery after the frosts, as 
recorded in the Journal. It need not have been so had the ridges been 
covered with a little long litter from the stable. We used not to do 
this, but in our strong soil could not keep Celery at all, as it became 
frozen and afterwards decayed rapidly owing to the stems being rendered 
soft by frost, but since we had recourse to covering the whole with litter 
we rarely find a decayed stick, and find no trouble at all in having 
Celery as late as April and sometimes May. Our plan is to cover the 
ridges entirely over during frosty weather, but the moment the thermo¬ 
meter rises above freezing point the litter is drawn off to give the plants 
air and light. They are thus in a better condition to withstand hard 
frost than they would be if continually covered; especially if the 
weather during the day be bright and warm.—B. M. 
