28 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 16, 1865. 
demands of a dry season, though there are cases where there 
is no excuse but want of observation. Walls are very good, 
but the soil near them becomes very much drier than it does 
in the open, as is evidenced by vegetable crops on the border, 
the growth being much weaker next the wall than it is away 
from it—the degree of vigour being in proportion from the 
wall outwards. This only holds good in summer, for in winter 
the warmth does much, and the moisture is then sufficient for 
the moderate evaporation going on, whilst in summer the re¬ 
verse takes place—the evaporation is great and the supply of 
moisture inadequate. This dryness I consider the cause of 
the failure of Peach trees after a dry, hot season; indeed, 
many fruit trees fail to fruit satisfactorily against walls from 
the circumstance of the soil being dry, the roots run into the 
soil at a distance from it, and these are deep and fibreless 
through the frequent stirring of the top spit for the growth of 
vegetables. The trees may have the benefit of the wall—warmth 
the roots have not—they have moisture when they need it 
least, and when wanted most it is drawn from a cold sub¬ 
stratum, for which reason alone I conclude cordon trees afford 
finer fruit than trees with the roots as distant from the stem 
as the branches extend. The cordons have the roots near 
the wall, the triennial lifting keeping them there in a medium 
as congenial as the wall itself is to the trees, and, most im¬ 
portant of all, they are well supported during the season of 
growth, being supplied with water passing through a mulch¬ 
ing of rich material, which keeps the roots active near the 
surface, and transmits support during the best part of the 
year, when trees left to themselves are languishing, and it is 
this superiority of cultivation which gives the excellence to 
fruit on trees trained on the cordon or other dwarfing system. 
Then insufficient supplies of water at the roots of fruit 
^ re ^ S ’^ S ^ eC ^ a ^ s ^? ne fruit) is a great incentive of red spider, 
and this pest ca ieing the premature casting of the foliage is 
a source of imperfect bud-formation, and must be taken into 
full account in securing a crop of fruit. Clean healthy 
growth from first to last is essential in the perfection of the 
present and providing for future crops. 
Although insufficient supplies of water or nutriment are 
provocative of imperfect bud-formation failures sometimes 
occur through the opposite cause. The borders may be rich 
and deep, the growth is strong and long jointed, and the 
uds formed, if not imperfect, are immature, and though 
ey may expand splendidly and set well it is rarely that the 
mat passes the first swelling without being cast, certainly 
very little of it will pass the stoning satisfactorily. The evil 
is often aggravated by allowing the trees to have the wood 
so close as to prevent the free access of light and air, so that 
e growth is not solidified as made, nor does it ripen well 
gumming results, the trees becoming unhealthy and 
unfruitful. The remedy for this latter state of the trees is 
luting, a firmer condition of the soil, and the addition of 
calcareous matter, allowing greater space for the foliage— 
Keeping the wood thin, and the growth regulated so as 
throughout'the 1 tree s^ ^ ° f ^ ^ COnse 1 Uentl y of vi § our 
.) Pe ® Ch tre0 s differ in’varying soils and climates. In some 
' ?• ® ueed for lifting is frequent, which particularly 
applies to shallow and porous soils, as these need more 
enrichment than soils of a closer texture, and in consequence 
tfie roots meeting with but little resistance are straight with 
But few ramifications or fibres, and they transmit sap much 
quicKer than those in a tenacious soil, and the wood is soft 
ong jointed, badly solidified, and imperfectly matured, there- 
mre the need of lifting to keep the roots at home and to 
increase their ramifications, which is also increased by well 
firming the soil. J 
On the other hand Peach trees in heavy soil—loam of a 
nacious nature, yet containing sufficient grit to render it 
mable for the passage of water,’; and when of a calcareous 
nature or its equivalent, as is exhibited in some loams not of 
a calcareous character as that overlying the freestone forma- 
won of the West Hiding of York or the red sandstone of 
Cheshire, and some parts of Lancashire, especially in the 
neighbourhood of Liverpool, the trees will continue in fertility 
for a great many years without any necessity for lifting. 
I have found, however, that whenever a fruit tree goes 
wrong the fault mainly arises from the soil and the way 
trees in it are treated in respect of soil, moisture, and 
manure, for tojjjbe successful the cultivator must so modify 
his practice as to meet the requirements of the trees under a 
variety of circumstances.—G. Abbey. 
LEAF MOULD FOR RHODODENDRONS. 
A year or two ago Mr. Wright brought under the notice 
of readers of the Journal the manner of using leaf mould as 
practised by Belgian nurserymen. It so happened that, having 
had to deal with a vast accumulation of leaves decayed and 
undecayed, the notes in question interested me much, as 
showing, for one thing, the absolute safety of growing plants 
entirely in leaf soil The result of one experiment we had 
made with Rhododendrons has proved so satisfactory that I 
am induced to send a line or two in order to call attention to 
this subject again. We had several beds of Rhododendrons to 
plant, and unfortunately had very poor material to plant them 
in, the soil being of a half-sandy half-gravelly nature. Peat 
could be procured by carting from a distance of twelve or 
thirteen miles, but this was as poor for peat as our natural soil 
was when compared with fairly good soils. The result was that 
we reverted to the ancient heap of leaves. 
The way the beds were prepared was simple enough. The 
turf was first skimmed off the surface, then a spit of the soil 
thus uncovered was wheeled away and utilised in making up 
irregularities in the lawn near by. The decayed leaves were 
afterwards carted to the beds thus roughly formed and put on 
to a thickness of 9 to 12 inches. Among this the Rhododendrons 
were planted firmly. A little soil was thrown over the surface. 
These plants were the only ones which were left to their own re¬ 
sources, so far as watering was concerned, of many that were 
planted at the same time; yet the three seasons in which they 
have been planted they have grown so rapidly that a process of 
thinning cannot be long delayed if the plants are "to thrive. 
Many of the shoots are this summer making eight growths, 
strong and healthy. That the beneficial effect of leaf soil is 
not confined to these alone is very markedly shown just now in 
the case of some Foxgloves which were sent me last summer and 
planted in these beds. Some of these have thrown several 
flowering stalks, which have already grown to a height of 7 and 
8 feet, one stem measured being 4 inches round, and young 
flowering growths are being thrown out from the axil of each of 
the large leaves with which the stem is clothed. And so with 
Primroses which have grown up among the plants. The foliage 
is at the very least four times stronger than that of plants 
established on the grass round about, while the clumps are so 
large that many have had to be removed for fear of their doing 
damage to the rightful occupants of the beds. 
The experience of this case alone is convincing as to the merit 
of leaf soil when used as it should be. As noted above, we used 
it to a good thickness, so that when firmed it practically resisted 
the effect of drought. The thickness of the layer has also had 
a farther good effect, which I have noticed as being absent when 
too sparingly used—that is, the roots have had a large field at 
their disposal. On the other hand, when too sparingly used the 
roots pick out the leaves first of all and stop growth for a while 
before fixing on the ordinary soil as a means of making farther 
progress. Then, I think, as the beds were not raised, but the 
leaf soil was buried beneath the surface, we gained an incalcu¬ 
lable benefit. Rhododendrons will not stand drought, and perhaps 
the very worst treatment they can receive is to plant them in 
raised beds. 
I may note, in conclusion, that I have seen failures in kitchen 
garden crops where leaf soil has been used, notably in the case 
of Celery and Leeks; but the fundamental fault has been a too 
limited supply of the material. If used in a large enough 
quantity to carry the plants on without check it is doubtless 
useful.—B. 
SPRING CABBAGES. 
For insuring good heads in good time more depends upon 
the time of sowing the seed than inexperienced persons are 
aware of. Nearly every district has its set time for sowing, a 
departure therefrom generally ending disadvantageously to those 
who attempt it. We are somewhat awkwardly situated, and 
have to strike out a line for ourselves. The climate is favour- 
