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JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
Jane 13, 1895. 
sorrow the disastrous frost we had ia May, 1894. We had in our 
nurseries a flat of espalier-trained Apples, part on the Paradise and part 
■on Crab, the flat was rather over quarter of an acre. The greater 
number was on the Paradise. The trees were four years old, spurred, 
and well set with bloom, the varieties comprising quite a collection. 
After the frost only two varieties carried fruit on the Crab stock, whilst 
those on the Paradise stock carried a full crop. I am aware that •* One 
■swallow does not make a summer,” nor does one observation prove a fact, 
but I may say that last August I had the pleasure of spending a day or 
two in Mr. Bunyard’s nurseries, and I found there the same tale. His 
■quarters of Apples on the Paradise were loaded with fruit, which he was 
selling at 12s. a bushel. Why 1 because his neighbour’s trees on the free 
stock had failed to carry fruit. 
We know that certain kinds of Apples—for instance, Lord Suffield, 
Cellini Pippin, or Potts’ Seedling—will crop on anything on which they 
will exist; but for any restricted form of cultivation, be it as cordon, 
espalier, pyramid, or what not, it is, in my opinion, a fallacy to tell 
the general public that the choice of stock matters little, as I maintain 
that “ on this the whole secret of success hinges.”—A. H. Pe ARSON, 
Cliilwell, Notts, 
WATER WANTED. 
If the cultivated plants and pastures we are everywhere growing 
•could speak as we read in the fable the birds and beasts once could, no 
doubt they would tell us of great suffering endured from want of mois¬ 
ture. We who are sentient creatures know but too well that whilst 
hunger may be hard to endure, the pangs of thirst are far greater and 
more painful. Thus it is when we see under the hot sunshine and in 
parching wind the plants in gardens and flelds hanging their heads and 
leaves because of thirst, we can imagine hearing them to moan in pain 
and to cry for water, water 1 Unless that imperative need for water, 
and plenty of it, is speedily supplied great harm will be done, crops of 
all descriptions will greatly suffer, and our labours in cultivation and 
in cropping in field and garden will be sadly discounted. It does seem 
as though we were ever anticipating blessing, but were never destined 
to secure it. 
Oar seasons are in no sense ideal ones. To go no farther back than 
1393, drought, long intense drought, so universally ruled that great loss 
resulted nearly all over the kingdom; crops that under ordinary 
conditions might have been heavy were reduced one-half, two-thirds— 
indeed, in some cases, as grass for instance, were practically non¬ 
existent. We had some compensations in the autumn, but not such as 
could repay for the summer shortcomings. 1894 was as wet as the 
previous year was dry, and it was in many ways a year of disaster with 
little compensation. The present year coming directly after two such 
opposite seasons might naturally have been expected to be of a normal 
type, not hot or cold, not wet nor dry, but partaking of each moderately. 
That is, however, not our experience so far, and one-half of the year is 
nearly gone. Nature seems resolved to adhere to extreme moods, hence 
we have had up to the present for the half year a remarkable minimum 
of rain, whilst early there was excessive cold and lately almost as 
excessive heat. 
The most critical time for all our crops has now been reached, and 
if no rain falls before the month closes then the injury done may prove 
to be great and irreparable. I am writing on the 8th inst. Last night 
the clouds, though light, bore an aspect of change. There was evidence 
of thunder in the air and accompanying rain. This morning the sky is 
hard and clear, and the sun shines out a hot blazer. There is not a 
shadow of cause for hope that change is imminent, though it does seem 
as if the heat must soon generate thunderstorms. But it is less such 
terrible downpours as often accompany electrical storms that we need 
just now, than a gentle steady rain lasting for twenty-four hours, and 
fertilising the soil without beating it, or splashing and injuring crops. 
Alas ! we may have long to wait before we get either. What a pity it 
is that such splendid weather, a meteorological aspect tending to show 
that sometimes England can wear a very warm smile indeed, should 
yet do harm. For all who care only for pleasure, and for some 
occupations, such as building, the weather is magnificent; but for all 
who work on the soil, and are dependent on its produce for a livelihood, 
the weather is deplorable. 
Now again crops up the old subject for discussion—a water supply 
for gardens ; but it is a very difficult one, seeing that there are myriads 
of gardens dependent for water on pumps and wells, whilst only in the 
-comparatively few is there a constant supply. But even with these there 
is limitation of use, as no artificial supply can in any way compensate 
for the absence of rain when spread over several weeks. It is often 
urged that water which at certain times of the year falls too abundantly 
should be stored. That is easily enough advised, and even carried out 
■where the expense of providing a huge underground reservoir is readily 
met. But huge must be the storage that would enable any gardener to 
satisfy the demands of all his crops during such a spell of drought as 
that is we are now experiencing. None the less, it is so obvious as to be 
incontrovertible that the greater the water supply during a drought the 
better for the garden in every sense. 
Any effort to utilise natural water sources for general irrigation 
would at ones drain our rivers and streams dry, and still leave the 
uplands as parched as ever. Everywhere, even where the soil is naturally 
retentive, we see the best crops now wheresoever the practice of deep 
working has been adopted. It is just such seasons as the present which 
show the exceeding value of trenching. There lies below, as it were, a 
reservoir of moisture, that is accessible to crops only when the soil is 
deeply worked, and from which crops on shallow worked ground are 
debarred. Only yesterday, looking over some allotments, I remarked to 
one holder that one portion of his crops were so much stronger and 
fresher than they were on another part. His reply was, “ Yes, I trenched 
that part; but this last I had only time to dig over, and that is the 
cause of the difference.” The same results may be seen in all directions, 
but especially so on allotments, where the working of the soil varies so 
much. 
In good gardens it is impossible to conceive of soil that is not 
always regularly trenched. If it be not, then the gardener has less 
reason to complain of the drought, hard as it is to withstand, than of 
his own neglect to give his crops every chance to withstand it. There 
seems to be no element in garden culture less artificial, and yet produc¬ 
tive of more permanent benefit, than is found in the practice of deeply 
working the soil.—A. D. 
EXPRESS GRAPE GROWING. 
I AM o’oliged to Mr. Innes for his reply to my query as to what his 
Grapes averaged per pound, given on page 478, and congratulate him 
in bringing so much out of so heavy a crop. 
As to the difference in opinion regarding finish in market Grapes, 
which your correspondent thinks so simple a matter and so universally 
understood, all I can say is that it is a pity it is so seldom practised. 
I, perhaps, may have too high and particular notions as to finish in 
Grapes, but the great bulk of the fruit I see placed on the market has 
very little finish, and certainly lacks that which gives the Grape its 
noble and luscious appearance. 
Mr. Innes has erred in his calculation regarding the heavy crop I 
mentioned. It is my fault, as iu the hurry-burry of Grape-thinning 
1 wrote a hasty note, and omitted to mention that the 300 feet long 
house had only fruit on one side. This would give only 120 rods, at 
2 feet 6 inches apart, in place of 240, as your correspondent had it, and 
consequently will work out exactly double the crop, or twenty-two 
bunches on each Vine, and 2 lbs. 12 ozs. per foot run of rod. But even 
this weight I am aware is not anything very extraordinary, and 1 must 
have underrated the particulars, as I only saw the crop once, and wrote 
from memory, not having taken any notes. We have one side of a house 
planted with Gros Colmau, 300 feet long. The Vines are from 8 to 
9 feet long, and are carrying seventeen bunches each ; many of them 
should weigh 3 and 4 lbs., and though scarcely half swelled, yet will 
not look nearly so heavy as the crop I saw and referred to. 
It is gratifying to see so many “ Growers ” taking part in this dis¬ 
cussion, and I trust that others will enter and give all your readers the 
benefit of their knowledge, as there is no doubt that in the matter of 
Grape growing market growers are far in advance of the mass of private 
gardeners. Like Mr, Innes, I am a firm believer in the wonders that 
are, and still can be, done with the Grape Vine under proper treatment, 
and look forward with interest to more details of other successes in the 
pages of the Journal soon, and hope myself to add my own share when 
reverting again to this subject later in the season, which I intend to do 
with the Editor’s permission. 
In connection with Gros Colman Grape, it was interesting to 
read Mr, John Thomson’s remarks on page 476. His late father was, 
I believe, the first to introduce and push this variety into prominence 
as a market Grape, and we all know how well the same Vines have been 
grown at Clovenfords for over twenty years. Like Mr. Thomson, I too 
was at one time under the belief that shading the glass would prevent 
the foliage cupping and browning to such an alarming extent as it very 
often does. However, after testing this plan on two occasions I found 
it did little or no good. The principal cause of injury to Gros Colman 
foliage, in my opinion, is injudicious airing. We have been very 
fortunate in preserving the foliage of our Gros Colman up to the last; 
indeed, we make this a special point in our Grape growing, for we do 
an extensive business with autumn-tinted Vine leaves, and as every 
practical Grape grower knows, unless the leaves are clean and healthy 
they are of no use for decorative purposes. Our soil is light, and 
outside borders are all raised above the level of the, surrounding 
ground, and in a dry locality. These three things are all against the 
preserving of the foliage of Gros Colman, and we attribute our success 
to never at any time using side ventilation, and if the house is large as 
little as possible on the top on windy drying days, giving instead 
additional dampings and keeping down fire heat. Another important 
point ia abundant moisture at the roots, and the liberal use of fertilisers. 
This latter point ia of great importance if heavy crops are borne and 
the leaves kept healthy. We believe in dressing the borders often, 
giving smaller doses, and continuing the practice on till late in autumn, 
as good feeding in the autumn tells with marked effect on the succeeding 
year’s health and vigour of the Vines.— Market Grower. 
P.S —Since sending my communication I have been favoured with 
a photograph from Mr. Innes of the house of Gros Colman he mentioned, 
and from which was taken the very interesting figures as to crops and 
prices for the last eight years. The photograph shows a very fine crop 
of good even-sized bunches, and is creditable to both grower and 
photographer.— Market Growler. 
I feel highly honoured by the compliment conferred on me by 
your correspondent on page 495 last week. Mr. Thomson still lingers 
over my little Vines, and asks where I got the abundance of fine healthy 
' fibrous roots. Well, I found them in the pots attached to the little Vines. 
