114 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 6, 1865. 
few continental Nectarines worth eating.” That is conclusive, and very 
fittingly closes these notes on Nectarines. 
CHERRIES. 
The Cherry house at Sawbridgworth is as plain auu cheap a structure 
as can be imagined. It is a long span-roof, 12 feet wide, with boarded 
sides about 4 feet high, with a continuous ventilating shutter about 2 feet- 
wide, but nearly always open, the space being covered with fixed wire 
netting for excluding birds. There is a path down the centre and two 
rows of trees in large pots plunged in the borders on each side—in all four 
rows. They bear prodigiously, and such fruit is rarely seen. It is 
splendid in size, fruits of the G cant de Heltingbem being nearly 4 inches 
in circumference. It is also superior, as others aro in quality, all far sur¬ 
passing fruit ripened in the open air, and it is not surprising the examples 
at the Royal Botanic Society’s Show tempted the Royal visitors, who 
“ never tasted such Cherries before.” There is a new treat in store for 
persons who may decide to grow such Cherries as these, as thousands may 
do, and by a good selection of varieties may have handsome dishes f r 
three months. It is passing strange that a Cherry house is not erected in 
any otherwise well-appointed garden where choice fruits are cherished. 
As an example of the productiveness of the trees a bunch of the Early 
Rivers is illustrated first. It is not adequately represented, as it had 
necessarily to be reduced. It was a fine cluster of between sixty and seventy 
superior fruits of one of the most valuable Cherries in cultivation. Other 
superior varieties are accurately described in the catalogue of the firm, 
and need not therefore be enumerated here. No structure in the esta¬ 
blishment gives greater satisfaction to the proprietor than this plain and 
profitable house of Cherries. It is not heated. 
VINES. 
The extensive and successful culture of Vines in pots in this nursery is 
widely known. Year after year the rows of pipes running along the 
front of long low houses form the base for thousands of them. It is 
astonishing where they all go, but that they do “go” is certain, and 
they are not likely to disappoint, for they are in every respect excellent, 
clean, sturdy, and mature. Not less satisfactory is the crop of Grapes on 
established Vines, all the leading varieties being well grown, the 
Vines planted in the ordinary soil of the nursery, trenched, and enriched 
with a heavy surface covering of manure. The value of trenching is 
firmly believed in at Sawbridgeworth, for the simple reason that without it 
so many and such good trees could not be produced on given plots of 
ground, nor such fine crops of Grapes in the houses. The weight of fruit 
is wonderful, and no rods are more heavily laden than those of the Gros 
Maroc, especially young rods ; and it is pretty certain that a greater 
number of fine bunches of this beautiful Grape can be had by working the 
Vines on the long-rod than the short-spur system. No finer crops of 
any Grape could be desired than may be seen of Gros Maroc. The weight 
of fruit is far greater and the bunches finer on young canes than on old 
rods. It is the same with the Duke of Buccleuch, though only a few rods 
of it are grown, but that it can be grown at Sawbridgeworth is evident, for 
out of several thousands of canes one produced by the Duke surpasses them 
all, and it is doubtful if a finer has ever been seen of any variety of 
Grape. 
IN THE GROUNDS. 
We have been under glass so far, and might tarry longer, but must 
have a quick run through the grounds. In one quarter we see batches o 
fruit trees in pots, Pears bearing heavy crops and others in preparation for 
them. Peaches and Nectarines from which crops have been gathered and 
the wood now ripening, and smaller trees innumerable also ripening, and 
which will bear their first crop next year, with Apricots, Apples, Plums, 
Cherries, and Figs all grown in the same way, and all grown well. 
In the open quarters the number of trees and varieties are bewilder¬ 
ing. Old favourite Plums appear to be grown as extensively as ever, 
while the new ones, such as The Czar and Grand Duke, must be in great 
demand to necessitate such a bountiful supply, and it is confidently" ex¬ 
pected that the demand will go on increasing as the merits of the 
varieties become more widely known for supplying the markets with fruit 
at a time, early and late, when fine Plums are not commonly plentiful. 
A plantation of what may be termed pyramid or vertical cordon 
Apple trees for bearing, with pyramid Gooseberries between the rows, is 
worthy of note. There are some 3000 trees in this plot, the Apples 
studded with spurs from the ground to the summit, and the Gooseberrier 
laden with fruit. The Apple trees are not “ summer pruned” to any 
material extent, Mr. Rivers having modified his views somewhat on 
that practice, which he is of opioion may be easily overdone or imperfectly 
conducted. If a branch threatens to go too far ahead of its fellows it is 
not cut back, but just the point is nipped off, and in that way the balance 
of the trees is maintained and their fruitfulness induced, while their 
vigour is not impaired. It is very apparent, however, that nothing 
approaching to overcrowding of the growths is permitted, but each shoot 
stands as it were alone, the leaves not being within touch of those On 
other shoots. That after all is the great secret of fruitfulness ; and when 
summer pruning is so conducted as to result in a multiplicity of branches 
crushing against each other, it is an evil and not a benefit. Thousands 
of growths require to be thinned out of thousands of youDg trees in 
gardens of this country in order that those remaining may be rendered 
fertile. 
Among Pearls the seedling Fertility continues to merit its name, for 
the trees are crowded with fruit. This variety has bee^i fruited for years, 
and never yet failed, therefore its raiser is justified ioHatroducing it as a 
market Pear of real usefulness, and not as a high-class imposing fruit fo r 
choice desserts. 
Filberts and Cob Nuts are grown largely as standards, being inarched 
on stems 7 feet or so high, and in this way they form large, round, pro¬ 
ductive heads, with no troublesome suckers springing from the base, as 
fruiting examples in the pleasure grounds testify. In this form the trees 
are both ornamental and useful, as are a number of other trees of various, 
kinds in this great establishment.—A VISITOR. 
DRY WEATHER AND SHALLOW SOIL. 
Not long ago when deep versus shallow working of the soil was being' 
discussed in these pages we said nothing for or against either system, but 
had good reason to practise and advise deep digging. In cool damp 
weather shallow soils may give a fairly good return, but in excessively 
hot and dry times they are found wanting. Let those who only believs- 
in surface scratching note the state of their crops at the present time. 
They are in a shrivelled and flavourless condition. The crops come in all 
at onoe, and are over quickly. The greatest help anyone can have in the 
kitchen garden in times of drought is a deep soil; while the most difficult 
matter to contend against is shallow-worked ground and surface-rooted 
plants. Now is the time to test the value of the systems.—A SCOTCH 
Gardener. 
THE SPOT ON PELARGONIUMS. 
What is the spot ? Those -who have really got the spot oit 
a plant will be in no danger of not knowing what they have got. 
They who have never seen it, or are uncertain about it, may form 
a very good idea of the appearance it presents if they could 
conceive of a quantity of lead shot, from the size of pin-heads to- 
that of small peas, heated as much as possible, and then retained 
in a scattered manner on the surface of the leaf, until the parts 
on which they rested were heated and scalded through. The 
petiole, or footstalk, of the leaf is frequently marked in a similar 
manner, and in very bad cases the young shoots are also similarly 
affected. It generally makes its appearance first on the oldest 
and most succulent leaves, and from small dots continues to 
spread until the leaves become unsightly, and in extreme cases 
fine flowers may be seen on plants pretty well as naked as a fowl 
would be that had lost most of its feathers. 
Is the spot infectious? Some say, Yes; and would as soon 
allow one spotted plant to remain in their collection as a farmer 
would permit a diseased sheep to taint a flock. My own limited 
experience does not lead me to this conclusion. I think those 
plants will only be affected that have been individually submitted 
to the predisposing causes. True, it may often happen that after 
one plant becomes spotted, others in its vicinity will become 
spotted likewise; but that is no proof of infection, though it may 
be a reminder that all these have been subjected to unfavourable 
influences. That amid such spotted plants there should be some 
vigorous and healthy would not be conclusive evidence either 
way, as the natural constitution of the plant might be stronger 
to resist the taint; or, as we believe, that strength of constitution 
might be able to resist the deleterious influences that injured 
others ; or, what is as likely, these influences were not brought to 
bear upon them in a similar manner, as a very little difference in 
the treatment, even as respects dryness and moisture, would 
make a great difference in the result. To make sure, however,, 
and to act on the safe side, if the plant that gave the first signs 
of the spot was of no value I would counsel getting rid of it ; if 
valuable and desirable, I would not do so, but keep it a little by 
itself. 
Does the disease become inherent and constitutional in the 
plant? Here, again, many say, Yes ! and if so, the keeping of 
such plants, or propagating young plants from them, would 
merely be doing all we can to propagate a disease. Unless the 
plants are much injured indeed, so as to affect the stems as well 
as the leaves, I should be under no alarm of the disease spread¬ 
ing ; in other words, I do not consider the disease inherent and 
constitutional, because I have found that plants that were 
spotted one year were free from spot on the following year, and 
that the cuttings taken from them were also clean, green, and 
healthy. This result must be attributed to the disease existing 
chiefly in the foliage, and when that is wholly removed and the 
plants cut down the new leaves and shoots that are formed will 
give new and healthy vigour to the plants. Here, however, as in 
the last case, merely as a security, if I had healthy plants of the 
same kinds as these diseased, I would throw the latter away and 
grow from the former. But unless the shoots were injured very 
much I should be loath to throw away a good and scarce variety. 
In general cases I believe that the spot in the plants of this year 
need not be seen on the same plants next year. 
What is the cause of the spot ? Here the theories are end¬ 
less ; every grower, as he has a perfect right to do, assigning 
what, no doubt, appears to himself a satisfactory reason. 1 wish 
