46 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
January 18, 1894. 
would tend to make light soils still more open ; moreover, it is 
then inimical to root action. When, however, fresh manure is 
dug into land during the autumn, as decomposition takes place 
the whole of the manorial properties are absorbed by the soil, 
and the utmost benefit is derived from it. 
Bearing the foregoing in mind, some may, with a good show of 
reason inquire. Why, then, is this course of treatment not advised 
for light soils, which are invariably the poorer ones ? The answer 
has already been given, but I think it well to repeat it in a more 
emphatic form here. If fresh manure be applied to light soils 
sufficiently long before planting takes place to enable the manure 
to become decomposed by the time roots are formed, having so 
little power of retaining moisture, the greater part of the virtue of 
the manure would by that time have passed beyond their reach, 
and as fresh manure is invariably the rougher, applying this would 
still further facilitate the escape of rich foods. For these reasons, 
therefore, it has been found expedient to defer the digging of light 
soils till the spring; but as so many operations have to be per¬ 
formed at that season, it is important to have everything in readiness 
as far as possible, so that the work may be pushed on with speed 
when the weather breaks up. In doing this, however, we ought to 
avoid falling into the error of allowing manure to lie long exposed 
in such a way as to permit its most potent properties to escape into 
the atmosphere. 
Manure placed in pits provided with a cesspool for carrying off 
superfluous water, or that which has been trodden under the foot 
of cattle while decay is taking place, is immeasurably richer than 
that formed of the same materials and thrown together in a heap 
to decay, because in the latter case rapid fermentation dispels 
much of the nitrogen. Where pits are not provided for manure it 
is therefore a wise expenditure of labour to make them, or if the 
manure heap in a fresh state must be continued it should be trodden 
firmly whenever large additions are made to it, and common salt 
be scattered upon the surface, which will, to some extent, fix the 
ammonia. When the pits are emptied at this time of the year the 
rough portions on the surface should be placed on one side, and the 
short manure thrown into a heap. It is then ready for wheeling 
on to any vacant quarters during the prevalence of sharp frosts. 
If placed in heaps where required and covered with a little soil 
all will be in readiness for digging in when the weather permits 
without any appreciable loss in the quality of the manure resulting 
through thus forwarding the work of spring. 
When very poor soils are being double dug I find it an excellent 
practice to prepare some fresh manure by shaking as much as pos¬ 
sible of the straw from it and then to mix the residue freely with 
the subsoil as it is broken up. In this way the soil is speedily 
enriched to a sufficient depth, and that portion of Jt in which the 
seeds are sown or plants set is in such a condition as to enable roots 
immediately they are emitted to permeate freely and assimilate 
the food which surrounds them. 
The adoption of such methods as these tends not only to employ 
much native labour, but also to unlock the vast store of food which 
is ever present in Nature’s storehouse—the atmosphere—that the 
fertile soil of this sea-girt land may be made to yield such abundant 
harvests as its geological composition enable and her geographical 
situation and vast population demand that she should do.—- 
H. Dunkin. 
DEEP VINE BORDERS—WATERING. 
Many new Vine borders will shortly be made, and those gardeners 
with varied experience in the work will make them wisely and well. 
Some comparatively new to the work will probably make errors in the 
construction of the borders aud in planting the yoiing Vines. I have 
had to deal with borders which were 6 feet deep and very wide, and the 
compost had but little opening material in it. In such borders, I think, 
the roots, if they go down deeply, will, many of them, annually perish. 
They are then out of reach of the sun’s influence. 
One outside border which I had charge of a few years ago was located 
in a very cold position. Tue sun never shone on one end of it. A Vine 
planted there was in an unsatisfactory condition, so we took out a 
trench 1 foot wide down to the drainage across the extreme end, left it 
open except at the top, which was covered with stone slabs so placed as 
to admit plenty of air. The border during the following season was 
drier—more under control—the Vine grew stronger, and produced better 
bunches of Grapes w'hich did not shank as they did before the drain was 
made. 
Unless the ground is naturally very gravelly it is best to concrete the 
bottom, placing a drain at the lower side on the concrete and under 
9 inches or 1 foot of drainage material— i.o., old bricks and broken 
stones. Upon this place a layer of sods grass side down, whole, as 
taken up from some old pasture. If the soil be of a retentive nature, 
break up plenty of old tiles and bricks, mixing them, and some old 
mortar rubbish, free of wood, with the roughly chopped turves which 
form the border. A depth of 2 feet 6 inches of soil will be sufficient. 
Making the border piecemeal is, I think, the best plan ; 4 feet wide the 
first year, and adding a few feet each season as required. I do not 
favour the mixing of any farmyard manure with the compost which 
forms the border. If made during this month the soil will have settled 
down and be in fit condition for planting at the end of February. 
Planting during the months of May and June does not find favour with 
me. Many practise it successfully, and I have nothing to say against it; 
but for beginners the safer plan is to shake out the soil carefully from 
the roots, spreading the latter out evenly, and covering with 4 inches of 
finer soil of the same nature as that composing the bulk of the border. 
If the Vine rod be shortened at the time of planting the wounds must 
be dressed with styptic to prevent bleeding. If not shortened then, 
the young growths must be rubbed off down to the level of the glass 
when an inch long or so. Frost only should be kept away from the 
young Vines after planting. No attempt to force them must be made. 
Growth should start very slowly with the heat from the sun only, but 
once started, an even temperature must thin be maintained, not 
excessive at any time. An inside border, if practicable, is best. 
Well constructed Vine borders require constant attention as regards 
watering, but where very deep ones have to be dealt with discretion 
must be exercised. When once it is thoroughly wetted through, pro¬ 
viding a good mulch be applied, such a border will remain in a moist 
condition for a number of weeks. I have only watered a border 
as that just named twice during an extremely hot summer, the growth 
and finish of the Grapes being very satisfactory ; whereas in previous 
years when water was too freely given, shanking of the berries occurred 
very much. A well known gardener once, when writing in the Journal 
of Horticulture on watering plants in pots, said that the person doing it 
should “ think through the soil ” before watering, and I say here that his 
advice may apply with profit to those who have the management of 
Vine borders.— G. Garner. 
Crashing of Dates of Rose Exhibitions in 1894. 
In reference to your remarks (page 34) about the Reigate Rose 
Society, which has been resuscitated by Mr. R. E. West, it is very 
unfortunate that the managers of this Show have chosen the same date 
for their fixture as that on which the Croydon meeting will be held. 
The Croydon Horticultural Society has for many years held its shows 
(which, I may remark, Mr. West has usually attended as an exhibitor) 
on the first Wednesday in July, and in 1893 spoiled their Rose exhibition 
by being unwilling to alter this invariable date. Similarly the Reigate 
Society has hitherto held its shows on a Saturday, and when altering 
the day of the week for their exhibition the new executive have not shown 
much care in selecting a date which will now clash with that of a 
neighbouring Society. I hear that the Sutton Rose Society has unfor¬ 
tunately selected the 27th June for its exhibition, this being the date of 
the N.R.S. Show at Windsor; but it is to be hoped this error will be 
promptly set right. It is a pity and against the interest of societies not 
to endeavour to carefully arrange their fixtures, as two fixed for the 
same day in the same Rose district cannot be otherwise than injurious 
to the best interests of their promoters. 
The Hybrid Tea Question. 
I am glad to see so great a rosarian as Mr. Lindsell (page 34) giving his 
vote and writing in support of “ W. R. Raillem’s” and my comments on 
the new Hybrid Tea class of the N.R.S. In connection with this question 
I may say that I have endeavoured to arrive at some good reason for the 
inclusion of La France amongst H.T.’s, and as this Rose is closely allied 
with Augustine Guinoisseau and other somewhat important new varieties, 
it is of consequence to rosarians that some explanation should be forth¬ 
coming for its transference from the H.P. to the H.T. class. I cannot 
find any trace of the parentage of La France in any of the usual 
authorities, and not only am I told, but also have recently read, that its 
parentage is not known and cannot now be traced. I do not myself 
see the faintest resemblance to or sign of Tea Rose origin in the variety, 
and the removal of this beautiful flower to “another place” is certainly 
neither promotion nor a desirable change or improvement in classifica¬ 
tion, nor does it seem to me to suggest anything but the carrying out of 
certain preconceived views by a section of the N.R.S. Rose Catalogue 
Committee, whose zeal in this case was not tempered with discretion.— 
Charles J. Grahame. 
What a delightful imbroglio has arisen upon this question 1 nor can 
I say much to my surprise nor dissatisfaction, for I suppose it is in 
human nature to rejoice when one’s anticipations are realised. I think 
all who know the course that I have adopted ever since the question 
was first mooted will agree that my view on the subject has been a 
consistent one. When my good friend “ A. C.” advocated the admission 
of Cheshunt Hybrid, which was the first and only Hybrid Tea for years 
(would that it had remained so), amongst Tea Roses I stoutly fought 
against it, and I think Rose exhibitors were glad thereof, for however 
useful it may be as a garden Rose its colour and form make it utterly 
