January 14, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
17 
aged and infirm; they do not give that help which is now so 
much needed, nor form that connecting link between active 
professional gardeners of all grades and ages which is so desirable, 
especially in such unfortunate times of depression as the present. 
The only hope of a discharged gardener now, unless he be pos¬ 
sessed of means, of which there is but slight chance, is on the 
nurseryman; and although these gentlemen have always shown 
the greatest sympathy towards gardeners in distress, still in 
times of depression like these they cannot do impossibilities 
nor find employment for all; the consequences are, I am grieved 
to say, many cannot find suitable situations, and are often re¬ 
duced to very painful circumstances. Experienced gardeners 
are sometimes compelled either to comply with most miserable 
and unjust conditions, or else undertake elsewhere such service 
or work for which they are totally unfitted, and they unfor¬ 
tunately sometimes lose courage and self respect, hope gives 
place to despair, and they sink deeper and deeper in the social 
scale. How many of these there are who with a little timely 
help, such as an institution like the one suggested might have 
afforded, could have been kept from sinking, perhaps started in 
a small but suitable business, and thus been enabled to gain a 
decent living instead of being reduced to semi-starvation. I 
must apologise for this lengthy and somewhat gloomy epistle at 
the commencement of a new year, but knowing that your columns 
are always open to any suggestions intended to improve the 
gardener’s position I venture to send it, sincerely trusting the 
dark cloud will soon pass away, and that the new year’s sun will 
quickly shine with more brilliancy on gardens and gardeners 
than has that of the past year.—T. Challis. 
ROSE MILDEW—NOTES ON GYPSUM. 
About a year ago there was a discussion in your columns on 
Rose mildew, and I suggested that gypsum should be tried as a 
remedy. If anyone else has tried this it might do good if they 
would state the results, whether adverse or beneficial, so as to see 
whether it is worth using. We are all learners. For my own part 
I have been almost free from mildew on Roses, but would not like 
to say it is due to the gypsum unless the fact was corroborated by 
others. 
It may perhaps be interesting to state the results when applied 
to other plants as a manure. I gave a dressing to all the usual 
kitchen garden crops, but could see no difference in those parts of 
the rows where it was applied than where they had none. The 
same with Gooseberries. Where it was given to young Black 
Currant bushes they did not seem to grow so well. 
The most remarkable effect was on a bed of Gooseberry cut¬ 
tings. As far as the gypsum went a great many more of the cut¬ 
tings died than where it was not applied. It was seen quite easily 
to a few inches how far it had gone. The extraordinary fact was 
that where the gypsum was sprinkled over the ground after the 
cuttings were inserted it was most hurtful, although it was not in 
such proximity to the roots, but where it was dug in before the 
cuttings were inserted it did least harm. With Red Currant cut¬ 
tings in the same place it had no bad effect, there being scarcely a 
blank where the gypsum was in the soil and where they had none, 
notwithstanding the very dry season, and when we dug some up the 
roots appeared to revel in it. 
Where the gypsum was sprinkled over the ground I frequently 
noticed that the ground looked damp as if it had had a shower, 
when elsewhere it was dry. Knowing that gypsum was supposed to 
yield moisture in dry weather I rejoiced over this, thinking that 
the gypsum had an affinity for moisture, and drew it from the 
atmosphere, and that it would be beneficial to the Gooseberry cut¬ 
tings, as the summer was so dry. I now think that it must have 
subtracted moisture from the ground, which had a contrary effect. 
Snowdrop Potato. —On the recommendation of “ A Kitchen 
Gardener,” vol. x., p. 167,1 planted this new variety of Potato, and 
can endorse all that he said about it. It is a heavy cropper of first- 
rate quality, has shallow eyes, is of good appearance, very floury, and 
of a beautiful white colour when boiled, I did not find any diseased 
tubers among them. It is a second early kidney. What more can 
be desired ?—W. Kruse. 
P-S.—I have been trying twenty-four varieties of Strawberries 
for three years, in order to see which are the most profitable, &c. If 
you thought it desirable I would send you the notes I have taken on 
them the last two years if I can find time to arrange them.—W. K. 
[We shall be glad to receive the notes obligingly offered.] 
CELERY CULTURE IN NOTTS AND YORKSHIRE. 
Celery-growing within the last seven years has become quite 
a business in North Notts and South Yorkshire. In the neighbour- 
18m. LONC. 
hood, within a radius of ten miles of Bawtry, 25 acres of land sufficed 
for the crop in 1878 ; but during the past year, 1885, upwards of 
400 acres were devoted to Celery. The variety grown is called the 
Clayworth Pink ; it was raised in the village of Clay worth, and is a 
most excellent sort, being good in most kinds of soil. The land in 
the parishes of Everton and Hayton where Celery is grown is peat 
or bog ; in the parishes of Clayworth, Wiseton, and Gringley-on- 
the-Hill the land is strong loam. Peat with a clay or cool subsoil 
answers better for growing Celery than stronger land. Most kinds 
of crops exhaust the soil—Celery improves it. The second year is 
better than the first, and so on—that is to say, the land requires less 
manure the third year, than the first, and is much easier worked. 
Celery taken up the first year weighed 2^ stones per bundle of 
twelve roots, and after seven years’ cropping the weight per bundle 
of twelve roots is 4J to 5 stones, sometimes more—not merely one 
or two bundles, but row after row as taken up. The land where 
this is grown is peat with a clay subsoil. 
The seed beds are prepared in January and early in February 
They are made of leaves and manure, or any kind of heating mate¬ 
rial which is at hand. When the beds have settled frames are 
placed on, and 6 inches of good soil is spread evenly over the bed, 
which is well watered and allowed to remain for a day or two. 
The seed is sown thinly over the surface, and covered with a little 
fine dry soil, and gently pressed in with a smooth board. The 
frames are then closed until the seed begins 
to germinate. The time for sowing is from 
the last week in February to the end of 
March. Great care is taken to make the 
beds quite flat—this is to say, the same 
height at the front as at the back, so that 
in watering the seed is not displaced by the 
water running from back to front, which 
frequently causes the seedlings to damp off. 
When the plants have made their second 
leaves they are given plenty of air to harden 
them ready for pricking out in the open 
when they are strong enough to handle. 
Beds of 4 feet wide are prepared by fork¬ 
ing in short manure, which the roots 
adhere to and form small balls of soil, 
when they are taken up to be planted in 
the trenches. Women are employed to 
prick them out at 6d. per thousand. Quick 
women can earn from 2s. to 2s. 6d. per 
day. The plants are dusted well with 
soot once or twice or more if the weather 
is showery during their growth in the beds. 
This acts as a fertiliser, and is effectual 
in keeping off the fly. Planting out in the trenches is commenced 
early in May. The trenches are made 5 feet apart. They are 
opened out with the plough and finished with the spade. Manure 
is spread in them from the cart and forked in 3 or 4 inches deep. 
The planting is done while the land is moist. The plants are put 
in with a spade or trowel down the centre of the trench. If the 
weather is dry they are well watered, then mulched with litter, 
long grass, flags, rushes, or anything suitable that can be collected 
to save labour in watering. When the plants have grown 6 or 8 
inches a one-horse plough is run down each side the rows to loosen 
the soil, then follow two men, one on each side of the row, with an 
implement each, called in this neighbourhood the “Push-up” (see 
fig. 5); the soil is pressed up from each side at the same time.. 
This operation is performed several times during the season. The 
plants are never allowed to break away. The - final earthing is- 
finished with spades. The earliest crops are ready for taking up 
the first week in September, and realise from 2s. to 3s. per dozen 
roots retail price. The crop is worth from £55 to £60 per acre - 
often more for very good crops. Later crops from £35 to £45 per 
acre. The number of plants required per acre is £16,000. Cost of 
labour in producing earliest crops on the ground :—Average rent 
from 35s. to £2 per acre ; rates, taxes, and tithe, 10s. per acre ; 
manure, £9 to £10 per acre ; labour, £10 per acre ; carting to 
stations, £4 per acre ; leaving a profit for the best early crops of £28 
to £32. Fer late crops labour is £2 less, bringing a profit of £10 
to £20 per acre. There are some failures, which is generally in the 
first year. 
The average quantity sent away weekly is 200 tons from various 
stations in the neighbourhood. Celery-growing in this district has 
been a success. Several labourers, very poor men, have started with 
small plots and worked them in early morning before their ordinary 
day’s work began, and in the evenings with the assistance of their 
wives and children. These men have now, some one horse and 
cart, and others two, and grow from 2 to 5 acres each. This season 
the Rev. W. Metcalf, vicar of Everton, has kindly assisted them 
Fig. 5. 
