416 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ NoTember 9, 1893. 
FEEDING PLANTS AND ENRICHING THE SOIL 
IN THE AUTUMN. 
CoxTiNUiNG my remarks on this subject from page 350 I will 
in the present article deal principally with that portion of it which 
treats of the feeding of plants growing in pots or tubs. I think 
few will deny that much of the success achieved in the growth of 
such depends to a great extent upon the manner in which this 
phase of culture is conducted. Given equal conditions in other 
respect, the gardener who feeds his plants the most liberally and 
regularly on rational principles produces the best results. I say 
rational principles advisedly, because it is quite possible—nay, easy 
—to do irreparable mischief by applying liquid manures before the 
soil is sufficiently permeated with roots to be benefited by them ; 
or to give the liquid in too strong a state, and thus destroy the 
medium through which nourishment is principally supplied to 
plant life. When, however, roots are plentiful and active they 
revel in a constant supply of fertilising food, under the influence 
of which health and vigour is increased and maintained ; but 
should the matter be neglected between the stages of growth 
which intervene between the time when feeding begins and the 
crop of flowers or fruit approach maturity a corresponding degree 
of vigour is lost. Observant cultivators know well that the higher 
the level of culture aimed at the more clearly is the slightest 
neglect apparent. 
The rapid strides towards perfection which have in recent years 
been made in the growTh of plants in pots renders it necessary for 
all who wish to maintain a position among the front rank of 
cultivators to pay especial attention to feeding more or less 
throughout the year. So long as the plants are not in a state of 
comparative rest, do not show signs of excessive growth, or have 
been recently repotted, few mistakes can be made by giving weak 
applications of liquid manure. It is scarcely possible to say too 
much in favour of the best chemical manures now freely advertised, 
containing as they do the most important elements of plant food. 
Thousands of grand plants are annually grown in small pots, 
which, without the aid of such manures, I believe, it would be 
impossible to produce in the same bulk of soil. Then there are 
other instances in which large plants have to be kept in pots or 
tubs for years without repotting ; with the help of these patent 
manures, and occasional waterings with soot water or natural 
liquid manures, they may be kept in excellent condition. I will 
now endeavour to show how these general principles may be put 
into practice in the growth of various plants. 
Camellias and Azaleas do not, in my opinion, receive so much 
assistance from chemical manures as they should do. The practice 
of feeding well during the time growth is being made, and then 
giving only clear water through the rest of the year, is even now 
practised by many, and the result is that to keep the plants 
so treated in a thriving condition much larger pots than are really 
necessary have to be employed. Bud-dropping in Camellias, and 
weak, thrip-infested growths on Azaleas, are often brought about 
by starvation pure and simple, especially when the plants are grown 
entirely in peat, in which they have a tendency to grow strongly 
and rapidly exhaust the soil ; then, unless regular feeding is given, 
slowly but surely they drift into an unsatisfactory state. Chemical 
manures here come to the rescue. If given once a fortnight during 
the summer, and once a manth during the winter, the best results 
follow, even when the roots are much confined. Provided the 
drainage is good, and the soil porous and sweet, these plants do not 
require repotting nearly so often as they receive it if instead they 
are fed regularly in the way indicated. Anyone who is sceptical on 
this point can easily prove it for themselves by setting apart two 
plants in an equally healthy condition, both having also plenty of 
active roots. Let one be given a monthly application of chemical 
manure, and an occasional dose of soot water, while the other 
receives clear water only, or perhaps a few waterings with liquid 
manure given at irregular times. If they will follow this course 
from the time growth is completed till the flowering period I am 
convinced they will entertain no doubt as to which is the better 
plan to follow. 
Again, note the difference between the massive trusses and vivid 
colour of the flowers of Zonal Pelargoniums when chemical 
manures are given and when they are not applied. Under some 
circumstances, to give such manure in the autumn and winter 
would result in strong growth and but little flower. When, how¬ 
ever, the plants have been properly prepared for winter work the 
results speak for themselves. Given plants with short-jointed 
growths, growing in small pots crammed with roots, place them in 
light houses close to the glass, give abundance of air, and keep a 
little heat in the hot-water pipes constantly, then even in winter 
the plants rnay be kept well laden with bloom colour. 
Bouvardias, Cyclamen, Primulas, Carnations, Euphorbias must 
be well fed even at the dark season of the year if strong plants and 
flowers are wanted. The amount of growth made will always 
be, to a great extent, regulated by the heat, light, and water 
which vegetation receives ; but the full benefit of such essentials 
can only be obtained by plants which have within their reach the 
chemical constituents needed to build up their growth. In dull 
weather fewer applications of water are required. This shows 
that the amount of nourishment drawn from the soil is small 
indeed compared with that taken up during the prevalence of sun¬ 
shine, and seems to be Nature’s mode of balancing the amount of 
growth made with that which the light and air are capable of 
solidifying. Bearing these facts in mind, it is easy to see that our 
cultural practices often err in the direction of neglecting to feed 
plants during the dull season of the year for fear of inducing 
sappy unripened growths. In bygone days, with old and dark 
houses, and primitive methods of heating them, there may have 
been good reasons for adopting what I term the starvation system ; 
but with plants thinly disposed near the glass in the light airy 
structures which fortunately are now the rule, a more liberal 
system of winter-feeding is attended by vastly improved results.— 
H. Dunkin. (To be continued.) 
VINE CULTURE—A RETROSPECT. 
Looking back to the days of Meredith of Garston, Hill of Keele, 
and Henderson of Trentham, a trio of growers who doubtless 
did a great deal in the matter of Grape culture, it seems to me that 
with all the extended appliances we ought to have a better 
knowledge of Vine growing. Those readers who can remember 
even a quarter of a century back, and look now at the advantages 
for Grape culture of the present day, must admit that we make 
bad use of them if we do not have a more intimate knowledge of 
the subject in question, and produce results in proportion. The 
young men of former days never had an opportunity of seeing 
Vines grown so extensively as they now are. I do not say that the 
practice is much improved in private gardens, though even here 
vineries have increased, the produce being sometimes sold to meet 
expenses. But it is the extensive market growing establishments 
that should send forth a number of expert hands 
I have to credit the northern growers with producing the 
largest berries in Grapes ; but I think southerners excel in weight 
of crop, and possibly finish. If we could, as growers, increase the 
size of individual berries at the same rate as we do the crop, what 
a sight we should present to the public ! But it is not so, the fact 
being no matter how correct are the conditions of the Vines 
from which we obtain extra large berries, even when we crop 
lightly, the results to the enthusiastic grower are disappointing. 
True a perfect finish combined with full sized berries is a pleasing 
sight, yet on estimating the weight of crop we still think we ought to 
have better. I take it that in cropping we have made rapid strides, 
and yet the Vines are kept in good bearing condition. Probably 
the market man is always more or less disappointed at the selling 
price of his best Grapes, the price not being in proportion to the 
quality, inferior though still good fruit paying far better. There 
seems to be a limit for shop trade as regard prices, thus at anything 
under 2s. per lb , say Is. 9d., I can sell cwts. of fruit, whereas Ido not 
sell pounds above ; this is in bulk say up to end of November. Then 
Muscats are always wanted when not above 2s. fid. per lb. ; but as 
one of my largest customers says, he fears now I have put up to 
2s. 9d and Ss. per lb. it will be too much for him. High prices are 
tempting, but though I treble the prices I have quoted before the 
end of spring, it is in limited amounts, and the real trade is in good 
Grapes at medium prices. Inferior, faulty Grapes are more than 
ever a drug in the market, shops of any pretension not caring to 
have them. With a more extended cultivation of the Vine and an 
increased practical knowledge we can do what we should have 
been afraid of in our early days. 
I have refrained from dealing with the large bunches, as they 
are of no practical use for the market man. Accidentally such 
bunches do come, and I have them now hanging, Gros Colman up 
to fi lbs., but I have not grown these specially, the Vine having its 
full complement of bunches. To devote a Vine to special bunch 
growing is always a failure. Take a gcod Vine, reduce to a few, 
say three, four, or six bunches, and the weight in them would not 
equal the ordinary number of bunches had they been left. Though 
such bunches do finish well the money is wanting when they 
come to be sold. I shall always credit the growing trade with 
raising the standard of finish in shop Grapes, and those who have 
any common goods have only to send to a market and the salesman 
will quickly give him a very low price, and even then he does not 
care for them. The aim of all Grape growers, be they large or 
small, should be first to study the Vine itself, both root and rod, 
and crop according as it will bear it. Varieties, of course, differ, 
and these have to be noted. One season’s experience will not do all 
this, it is a question of years.— Stephen Castle, F.R.H.S. 
