Augu3t 6, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
121 
they have been used, medicinally. It is, however, as an object of beauty 
that the Water Lily claims our attention ; and nothing can be more lovely 
than a calm lake on whose bosom may be seen floating numbers of these 
snowy nymphs. On Loch Lomond acres are covered with them; and in all 
the northern English lakes they are more or less abundant. Like the sacred 
Lotus of the Nile, the flowers rise and expand as the sun gains strength, 
and close again in the evening; sleeping as it were through the hours of 
darkness until called into life again by the warm rays of light. 
“ Moore poetically describes this natural process— 
•Those virgin Lilies all the night 
Bathing their beauties in the lake, 
That they may rise more fresh and bright 
When their beloved snn’s awake.’ 
The stimulus of the sun’s ray3 seems to have relation to the fertilisation of 
the plant. The pollen, if scattered beneath the water, would be washed 
away and decomposed, while on the expanded raised flower it is received 
without injury. This is truly the object for which— 
•The Water Lily to the light, 
Her chalice rears of silver white.’ 
And as it is with poets in sentiment, so it should be in our everyday life ; 
each daily duty, if viewed aright, contains in it the elements of poetry, 
which might be made to surround the most prosaic acts of existence with 
beauty.” 
The nomenclature is generally accurate, but the adoption of capita^ 
initial letters for the specific names is a disfigurement, and the Cowslip 
is erroneously termed Primula officinalis instead of P. veris. A few literal 
errors occur, as in Glauceum, which should be Glaucium. It is a readable 
little book, and is most elegantly bound. 
Where to Find Ferns. By Francis George Heath. London : Society 
for Promoting Christian Knowledge. 
One very striking character of this little work is the large number 
of illustrations with which its pages are lightened, and as the majoiity of 
these are photographic reductions of the plates in the “ Fern Portfolio” 
by the same author, and representing choice bits of scenery where Ferns 
abound, some idea can be formed of their character. For these alone the 
book is very cheap, and to many persons probably the matter will also be 
welcome. The author has endeavoured to avoid giving precise indication 
of the localities where the different species of Ferns are found, to prevent 
any of these being exterminated by enthusiastic collectors ; but in this 
he appears to have defeated the object of the book as indicated in the 
title. For instance, we are told that Allosorus crispus is found in Chester, 
Cumberland, Derby, Devon, Durham, and other countie-i, and in most 
other cases no more precise indication is furnished. In a few, however, of 
the rarest, and those therefore most likely to be sought for, the exact posi¬ 
tions are recorded. Mr. Heath thus states his object and the advantages 
of Fern-seeking in the explanatory chapter : — 
“ Fern-hunting to lovers of Ferns is one of the most delightful of pas' 
times. It gives zest to any country walk, because it adds the attraction o^ 
a hobby to the pleasure of being out of doors. Life in the present age is 
far too sedentary, and there exists too great a tendency to sit in rooms with 
closed doors and windows. Some people seem almost to dread air in motion, 
and they become, in time, so little used to it, that at length the body itself 
is brought into a morbid state, currents of air become ‘ draughts,’ and cold 
and illness are the result. The air is the best friend we have, and in seeking 
outdoor pastimes in the country we obtain it in its best and purest form. 
The seeker after Ferns must ride his hobby into the wildest and most out- 
of-the-way districts, and into the most delicious nooks of greenery—must 
climb hills, wind through valleys, plunge into woods, follow the course of 
streams, search rocks, hedgebanks, and forest clumps, examine old walls 
and tree-forks, and look everywhere, in short, where green life has a chance 
of existence.” 
Chapters are devoted to the definition of terms, Fern habitats, the 
cultivation of Ferns, and the Ferns around London, and being neatly 
bound the book will undoubtedly find many purchasers. 
FRUIT CROPS AND THE DROUGHT. 
A BIDE through some parts of Wiltshire and the north-eastern borders 
of Somerset discloses the fact that Apples and Pears are by no means so 
plentiful as at one time it was thought they would be. Probably the crop 
was never more variable, some trees being overloaded, while others 
adjoining are nearly or quite bare. It would appear that those Apples 
which possess strong constitu’ions and those which did not perfect any 
fruit last season are the most fruitful this year, such sorts as Keswick and 
Manks Codlins, Lord Suffield, Hawthornden, Stirling Castle, Tower of 
Glamis, King of the Pippins, Warner’s King, Dumelow’s Seedling, Cellini, 
and Cox’s Orange Pippin being about the heaviest croppers. Large quan¬ 
tities are dropping off the trees, fortunately so in many cases ; but whether 
this is the result of long-continued drought or not I cannot determine, 
though there is no doubt the drought will injuriously affect the size of the 
majority of those hanging. 
Pears are also very abundant on some of the trees, but these do 
not seem disposed to drop; and unless freely thinned are certain to be 
small and poor in quality. All alike blossomed well, but the exposed trees 
have, as a rule, set the smallest crops. In many places the trees are 
almost smothered with honeydew, and the hot sun has burnt the foliage 
badly. Filberts, wherever slightly sheltered, appear to be bearing extra¬ 
ordinarily heavy crops, and Walnuts are fairly plentiful. 
Morello Cherry trees appear to be fast dying back, and I do not 
remember having before seen so many strong trees losing so many 
branches. This strange disease, or whatever it is that is working the 
mischief, would appear to be also prevalent in other districts, and one 
friend informs me that in a garden in Sussex the Morellos are dying back 
wholesale. Young and old trees appear to be similarly affected, and 
apparently there is no remedy for this most damaging disease.—W. I. 
KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Watering. —This has become very necessary with many crops. Peas 
coming into bloom or pod, as well as those which are later, must net be 
allowed to droop through dryness at the root or the crop will deteriorate. 
Water all of value thoroughly every three days or so, Celery will take 
copious supplies. Runner Beans will soon cease bearing if too dry ; and 
where hands and means will allow general waterings should now be the 
chief part of the vegetable garden work. Weeds have stopped growing, 
small fruits are mostly gathered, and the grass in the pleasure grounds 
does not require much cutting now, so we have more time for watering, 
which we regard as profitable employment such times as these. There is 
no use in thinking whether watering can be best done in the morning or 
afternoon. We often go on all day, and on no account should it be 
neglected if a succession of good produce has to be kept up. Liquid 
manure is beneficial to all crops, but we do not pay so much attention to 
this in hot weather as getting the crops watered in any form. We 
dissolve a handful of guano in every four gallons of water, and give it 
after the plants have been first watered with clean water. We only give 
complete soakings, no surface waterings are tolerated. 
Old Vegetables. —These are turning in fast. Peas and Broad Beans 
which were green and in full health a fortnight or so ago are now yellow 
and useless, and the sooner they are cleared off the better. Use the stakes 
which come from the Pea rows to hold up the later ones which now require 
support. Spinach and Lettuce are running fast to seed, and are cleared 
off to make room for rising crops. Lettuce stems are cut into lengths of 
from 1 inch to 2 inches, and preserved in syrup to be used by-and-by at 
dessert. They are very good; few could say they were eating wasted 
stems of Lettuce when partaking of this delicacy. 
A Succession of Vegetables. —This tests the skill of a grower more 
than anything. We often see a remarkably good crop of one vegetable 
in at a particular time, and it is very satisfactory while it lasts ; but when 
there is nothing more to follow, complaints from the kitchen and dining¬ 
room are certain. It is at midseason when we have experienced the 
greatest difficulty, and we now take the precaution to sow often of crops 
which are coming into use about that time. We can say nothing to 
remedy any mistake for this season, but we would urge cultivators, more 
especially young growers, to make a note of any deficiency and guard 
against it in time to come. No one has any cause to grumble about our 
supplies just now, but we have been making a note to sow our seeds 
deeper and further from the dry surface in time to come than we have 
hitherto done. 
Spinach.— Just between the finishing of the summer Spinach and the 
coming-in of the winter crop, there is a danger of none being had, 
and where this really useful vegetable is valued, a gap in the supply will 
not do. A good and last sowing of the round-seeded variety should be 
made at once. Let the soil be rich, have the drills 15 inches apart, and 
sow thinly. 
Turnips .—Those sown for autumn use have come up quick and well, 
and require thinning ; this should not be delayed too long. Dwarf sturdy 
plants can only be secured by timely attention in this respect. Let them 
have plenty of room ; it is the only way to secure fine bulbs in the short 
days. Seed of both early and late varieties may still be sown. The 
culture advised for the Spinach will suit them admirably. 
Ripe Potatoes. —While the dry weather has been against many thing3 
of late it has certainly been in favour of early Potatoes, and our crops are 
excellent. The early and midseason ones are quite ripe, and will be 
lifted and stored forthwith. We have Brussels Sprouts, Savoys, and 
other winter vegetables growing between the Potatoes, and as it is difficult 
to get the tubers dug out clean when the leaves of the greens are 
meeting we are all the more anxious to take advantage of the present 
weather to put both the Potatoes and the greens straight. 
French Beans. —Osborn’s has been ready for some weeks in the open, 
and there are now plenty of tender pods of Canadian Wonder ; and 
Laxton’s Girtford Giant Runner gave us some good pods the last week in 
July. They are all very tender, and a nice change from the Peas. A late 
sowing of dwarfs may still be made in warm localities, but they must 
be put along the bottom of a south wall or in a position where they will 
be well sheltered in October, as this is the time they will he in bloom and 
fruit. When any kind of French Beans bears more pods than can be 
used they should be gathered before they become too old, as this causes 
the plants to cease producing young pods quicker than anything we know. 
We would rather gather the pods and throw them away than allow them 
to remain to spoil the successional fruiting of the rows. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Fias.— Farly-forced Pot Trees .—Figs that have been bearing in pots 
since the end of April will still be affording an abundance of fruit, with 
