100 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
March 8, 1894. 
often dirty, and always very irregular in size. On the other hand 
Jersey Potatoes are firm, clean, and of a more uniform size. Their 
appearance alone would induce purchasers to give a penny per lb. more 
for them than for the others, and that penny makes all the difference 
between the grower’s profit and loss. There is another piece of folly, 
not to use a stronger term, to which our gardeners have been addicted 
for many years. It is too old to deceive anyone, and has probably done 
the trade great injury, yet they continue to put “toppers” on their 
baskets. Suppose they try the other plan next season, and pack their 
baskets fairly throughout. It will not do the growers any harm, and it 
might do them good. At any rate they will have the satisfaction of 
knowing that no attempts at deception were practised. 
What has been stated respecting the Potato trade will apply with 
equal force to the Broccoli trade. Our gardeners bitterly complain some¬ 
times against the heavy charges which the railway companies make 
for carrying their produce to market, and yet one-third of the payments 
made to those companies every Broccoli season is for carrying either 
half-empty crates or crates stuffed with leaves which no one wants nor 
buys. If instead of packing four or five dozen in a crate they were 
to put in eight or nine dozen the gardeners would find at the end of 
the season that a considerable amount had been saved. Not only would 
there be less railway carriage to pay, but less crates, yarn and straw 
would be required, which, when totalled up, would make a sum not to 
be despised in these times when profits are reckoned by fractions. 
There should be also a better and more uniform system adopted by 
the gardeners as regards packing. Some will send four or five dozen 
in a crate—and these f.re the greater number—others will put in seven 
or eight dozen. But when they both arrive in the open market the 
prices are regulated more by the small crates than by the large ones, 
and consequently the man who tries to deal honestly is injured by 
his less scrupulous neighbour. To remedy this a label should be 
attached to every crate with the number of Broccoli it contains. 
Hundreds of crates have been sent away again this season which have 
not returned a penny to the growers, and in some instances they have 
been out of pocket on their transactions and have had to send money 
to pay cost of carriage. It does not require far-fetched arguments to 
explain the reason why prices have gone down this season to such an 
unremunerative figure. It is plain and palpable, and “ he who runs may 
read.” There are, however, some gardeners who believe in the maxim 
that " Honesty is the best policy,” and who are not always trying to 
“ do ” their customers. Their goods can always be depended on, and 
even this season they have had 8s. per crate returned when some of 
their neighbours at the same time had only l^d. To restore lost 
confidence, to recover trade, and to increase the business all should 
act as the few are doing—pay more attention to the quality of their 
goods, as well as to the sorting and packing. 
GARDENERS’ ACQUISITIONS. 
I HEARTILY commend “ W. P. W.’s ” reflections (page 123) to the 
careful consideration of young gardeners. The points raised are of the 
greatest moment to those who, like myself, have often lingered on the 
brink of uncertainty waiting for an inspiration to guide me on the 
uncertain road, but can now turn with renewed energy and a settled 
purpose. 
Natural history in its broadest sense has a fascinating charm to 
gardeners ; it is a wonderful study, and often amusing to read the 
speculations of our forefathers as to the cause and effect of the many 
diseases and peculiarities which vegetation was in their time (as in ours) 
subject to. They looked with a mysterious and superstitious air upon 
many things caused by insects. We should ridicule the writer who, on 
seeing a gall growing upon the Oak or other tree, prophesied war, 
pestilence, or famine, according to the insect secreted therein without 
visible means of ingress. No one would wish for a return of this un¬ 
scientific age when “ Nature and Nature’s laws lay hid in night.” We 
may truthfully say Darwin, Lubbock, Huxley, with many other learned 
men, have with the light of science compelled Nature to reveal her 
secrets and brought them within reach of all. 
Science in agriculture and horticulture is a necessity in these days ; 
at the same time it behoves us to keep on the alert, and not allow our¬ 
selves to be carried away by mere theoretical teaching, i.e., teaching 
unsupported byproDf. And how are we to distinguish between mere 
theoretical teaching and the true scientific facta if we are totally un¬ 
acquainted with what constitutes proof ? Practical knowledge is 
essential in the training of all who aspire to the management of 
gardens, but science combined with practical knowledge enables us to 
readily comprehend what practice alone cannot clearly explain ; there¬ 
fore I would say to all who wish to make themselves efficient, Investigate 
vegetation, soil, and atmosphere, and most assuredly this will create 
interest and afford pleasure, but do not be carried away by anything 
or everything which savours only of science. We must bear in mind 
that knowledge gained by observation is the most powerful. Reading 
and study often make a man appear more competent than is actually 
the case. Read not to contradict and confute, as Lord Bacon wisely 
wrote, but weigh and consider what you do read. “ Some books (like 
articles) are to be tasted, others swallowed, and some few to be chewed 
and digested.” 
I am pleased to see that shorthand does not occupy a very pro¬ 
minent position in “W. P. W.’s” selections. Too much weight has 
from time to time been placed upon this art being of such invaluable 
benefit to young gardeners. I, like many others, joined the ranks of 
shorthand pupils, but cannot claim to be an expert in the art, for the 
reason that I could never grasp or realize its wonderful power as a 
gardener’s friend. True, it strengthens the memory and cures 
indecision, a desideratum truly. 
One point in connection with language, trifling as it may appear, is 
of the utmost importance. Before a young gardener attempts to master 
the rudiments of French, German, or Latin, let him first ask himself this 
question:—Do I know my own language thoroughly ? Am I thoroughly 
conversant with the rudiments of the English language 1 If not, 
cast aside for a time ambitious intentions of studying foreign languages, 
and labour with assiduity to understand the principle of our own 
mother tongue, for by so doing we are better able to appreciate and 
understand the thoughts and works of our gifted brethren.—F. Dunn. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Vines.— Vine Eyes .—Those inserted in February will now have 
rooted, and should as soon as the roots reach the sides of the pots be 
shifted into 6-inch pots, placing them on slate shelves over the hot-water 
pipes in preference to plunging them in bottom heat. It is necessary to 
exercise particular care in watering, as a rather dry condition of the soil 
favours root formation more than a very wet one, still an adequate supply 
of moisture is absolutely necessary for the speedy and continued 
formation of roots. Syringe well amongst the Vines, but not too 
forcibly. Pinch the laterals at the first leaf, and to each succeeding 
joint of growth as made. If they are intended to be planted out this 
season the laterals may be left entire, but pinched Vines form more 
fibrous roots than those allowed to ramble. 
Cut-bach Vines .—The canes cut back for fruiting in pots next season 
will now be fit for shaking out, repotting, or shifting into the fruiting 
—12-inch pots. If they have been plunged in bottom heat they should 
l)e returned to it for a time, especially such as have been shaken out and 
repotted, 75° to 80° being sufficient, otherwise they are better without 
the bottom heat. Keep them close and moderately moist until they are 
established. Train the canes near the glass, as they cannot have too 
much light, it being important that the growth be solidified as it is 
made. Turfy loam, rather rough and moderately moist only, with a 
quart of bonemeal, another of wood ashes, and a pint of soot to every 
bushel of loam, form a suitable compost for Vines in pots. Clean pots 
and efficient drainage of clean crocks should always be employed. 
Fruiting Vines in Pots .—Those started last November will now have 
the fruit stoned and taking their last swelling. The Vines, therefore, 
must not sustain any check through dryness at the roots or want of 
food. Surface dress with rich material, and if the roots extend beyond 
the pots feed them with liquid manure. When the Grapes are evenly 
coloured liquid manure should be withheld, supplying pure water, and 
only sufficient to preserve the foliage fresh and the fruit plump. 
Early Houses .—Early Vines have as a rule made satisfactory pro¬ 
gress, especially those with the roots in outside borders with no further 
protection than sufficed to prevent the soil becoming frozen. In some 
cases the Vines have started slowly and broken irregularly, a few 
bunches showing a tendency to blindness, and others twisting and 
twirling in any but the right direction. Under such circumstances a 
slight increase of temperature and a reduced supply of moisture for a 
short time may be beneficial. Thinning the berries should be kept well 
in hand, commencing as soon as those likely to swell freely can be 
detected, and as a rule thin well in the interior of the bunches, leaving 
the berries with room to attain tneir full size without wedging, and yet 
so full as not to fall out of .shape when placed on a dish. Liquid 
manure applied to inside borders will materially assist the swelling of 
the Grapes after having been thinned, but it is best to vary the diet, 
giving a top-dressing of some approved advertised fertiliser about every 
three weeks, or the following may be used—bone superphosphate three 
parts, powdered saltpetre two parts, Thomas’ phosphate one part, mixed, 
using I ozs. per square yard, and washing in moderately. A liberal 
supply of atmospheric moisture is also necessary, and if moderately 
charged with ammonia it is beneficial to the Vines and inimical to red 
spider. It may be secured by occasionally sprinkling the border and 
paths with guano water 1 lb. to twenty gallons of water, or, better still, 
supply a mulch of sweetened horse droppings a little at a time over the 
whole border, but too much at once will prejudicially affect the foliage. 
Sharp winds necessitate care in ventilating, so as to avoid sudden changes 
of temperature, and thus crippled foliage and rusted Grapes may be 
avoided. Air should be admitted with great care in such weather, 
closing early in the afternoon at 85°,allowing an advance of 5°,and from 
that point the temperature should gradually fall to 65° at night. During 
the daytime the heat should be maintained at 70° to 75° when the sky 
is overcast. 
Grapes that have passed the stoning process ought to have copious 
supplies of liquid mar ure in a tepid state. Avoid the close stopping 
system until the trellis is evenly covered with foliage, as every leaf 
