Jannary 2 ] 890. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
17 
these are only produced in firm soil. The leading roots have to fight 
their way through a firm soil, and this causes them to throw out in¬ 
numerable fibres which are the life of the plant. 
Loosely potted plants are constantly requiring water, as that which 
is given passes through quickly, and if the drainage becomes at all 
clogged the whole soil is soon a miniature bog, and failure immediately 
follows ; but this never occurs with firmly potted plants. The more 
difficult the plant is to grow the firmer the soil should be made, and 
many understand this, as we all know how very firm good cultivators 
of I Heaths, Azaleas, and some other hard wooded plants pot their speci¬ 
mens. The result of potting a Heath loosely can be readily imagined, 
and the disastrous consequences are to be found in other plants as 
well, only perhaps they do not show it so soon or so conspicuously. 
It would be impossible to calculate the number of plants annually 
killed or kept in permanent bad health by loose potting, and the remedy 
is in the hands of all. Give Vines a loose border, and they will produce 
long jointed wood, flabby leaves, and straggling bunches, but in a firm 
border all these are reversed, and the firmness of the border is shown in 
the sturdy development. Many who try to improve their straggling 
Vines by adding rich top-dressings would accomplish the work much 
sooner and better if they simply trod the surface down a hundred times. 
I know Peach and other wall trees that are sometimes disturbed by 
moles burying amongst the roots and loosening the soil, and these are 
never in such good health or so fruitful as others that have the soil 
firmly pressed about the roots. In fact, fruit trees show the disad¬ 
vantage of having to exist in a loose soil as much as a plant in a 6-inch 
pot, and it is impossible to make fruit borders too firm. 
Cucumbers and Tomatoes may he grown capitally in a hat box 
full of soil if it is firm, but in a loose heap they only produce soft 
unfruitful wood, and always seem to be hanging between life and death. 
It is a difficult matter to prevent Pine Apple plants assuming a yellow 
hue when they are potted without the soil being rammed, and firmly 
potted plants of all descriptions bear much more cold and damp in 
winter than those in loose soil. It is a grave mistake to allow the 
ground to remain loose that the water may pass through and away from 
it freely, because it does not do so, hut retains the moisture far more 
than the firm soil. 
Vegetable crops are greatly influenced by firm soil. In the case of 
Onions, Turnips, and Beetroot the loose soil will cause them to grow 
deformed, forked, and small, hut firm soil induces them to “ bulb ” early 
of splendid form and a great size. Carrots and Parsnips, too, show the 
difference, as forked roots are the rule in loose soil, whereas in firm 
material they are straight, clean, and perfect. During the last ten 
years I can safely say we have not lost a score of Celery plants through 
“ bolting,” and I attribute their immunity from this common complaint 
to the thorough treading the soil receives round the plants. Extremes 
of drought and wet do not affect vegetation half so much in a firm 
soil as in a loose one, and in short wherever the production of high 
class crops is desired firm soil should be provided.—J. Muie, Margam 
Park, South Wales. 
THE CAGED BULLFINCH. 
Ip the good qualities of the bullfinch were generally known it would 
be more frequently sought as a domestic pet. For at least twenty-five 
years I have never been without one, and I can testify they are amusing 
and affectionate birds. Of course, the song of our English bullfinch is 
not to be compared with that of some other finches ; it consists but of 
few notes, yet it has an agreeable wildness about it, and as the bull¬ 
finch is somewhat imitative it often picks up and mingles with its 
natural song fragments of vocal or instrumental music it may have 
heard. When young it may be got to learn any tune that is assiduously 
whistled to it daily, and it is stated that the bullfinch can be taught to 
utter short words, but I have never had proof of this. Towards those 
who feed it, and others it frequently sees, this bird soon shows affection, 
j ealousy also of notice given to other birds, or even to children. It has 
a terror of cats which is almost ludicrous, but, on the other hand, it 
shows little alarm of some things which much startle canaries, such as an 
unusual head dress, or any peculiar noise. Bechstein states that the 
bullfinch seldom lives long in confinement—from six to eight years, 
frequently less. I have had them live ten, and I believe mismanage¬ 
ment or neglect is the cause by some persons soon lose bullfinches. 
Should they be fed with seeds, not paste, they require hemp mixed with 
canary, but the hemp should be crushed. I do not think rape is good 
for them, for they seem to be benefited by a little maw or poppy seed 
occasionally. Green food is very important, to be varied according to 
the season ; they are fond of Plantain, Groundsel, Shepherd’s Purse, and 
Watercress. As their feet are apt to be clogged these must be looked 
after, and now and then washed.— Naturalist. 
BOTANY IN AMERICA. 
The great botanical establishment which the people of New York 
are still talking about vaguely is to be realised in St. Louis. It is 
provided for under the will of Mr. Henry Shaw, who died during the 
past summer, having for many years devoted his leisure and a consider¬ 
able part of his income to the establishment and care of a public 
garden in his adopted city. The whole of his estate, with the exception 
of a few small legacies, is now left to a board of trustees for the 
benefit of this garden. It has been appraised at nearly 3,000,000 dollars, 
and produces a net income of about 50,000 dollars ; but as a large part 
of Mr. Shaw’s property is invested in unimproved real estate within the 
city limits of St. Louis, the income of his estate may be expected to 
increase enormously with the growth of that city ; and Professor 
William Trelease, the newly appointed director, will, in all probability, 
soon find himself at the head of a better endowed establishment than 
any other of its kind which has ever existed. There is no botanical 
garden in the world, with the exception of that at Kew, where th& 
annual expenditures are not far from 100,000 dollars, which enjoys an 
income of anything like 60,000 dollars, and a vast amount of good and 
useful work can be accomplished every year with that sum of money. 
Professor Trelease, with the income now at his command or which will 
be available for his purpose in a short time, will be able to lay the 
foundation of an establishment of such scope that it will soon make 
St. Louis the botanical centre of the New World and draw to it students 
from every quarter of the globe. His early efforts, very properly, will 
be devoted to elucidating the botany of North America ; and he is 
fortunate in possessing as a nucleus of the St. Louis herbarium the 
collections of Engelmann, which, in certain groups of plants, are so 
inestimable value. 
Of special interest to young men who desire to become gardeners if 
the plan, not yet entirely matured, of offering, in connection with the 
Shaw Garden, six scholarships for garden pupils, for the benefit of 
young men between fourteen and twenty years of age, who are to be 
taken for six years, and who will be expected to work in the different 
departments of the garden, receiving, besides, theoretical instruction 
in botany, horticulture, economic entomology, and as much land survey¬ 
ing and book-keeping as is necessary for a gardener having the charge 
of a large estate. It is proposed by means of these scholarships to 
make gardeners, and not botanists, and a taste for the manual work of 
the garden will be insisted on in the young men who hold them. They 
will receive pay for their work, and be given, free of cost, plain and 
comfortable lodgings near the garden, as well as free tuition in the 
School of Botany of Washington University, and sueh other instruction 
as may be necessary. Never before has such a chance been offered in 
this country to young men desiring to become thoroughly educated and 
trained gardeners, and the influence which Mr. Shaw’s munificent 
bequest will exert through these scholarships upon horticulture in the 
United States can hardly fail to be great and lasting. 
The trustees of the Shaw Garden have it in their power to build up 
a great and useful institution of science and learning. Their oppor¬ 
tunity is magnificent, and their responsibility is correspondingly great.— 
(^American Garden.') 
3 0 
B WOKK.F0IITHEWEEK.' 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Vines. — Earliest Forced. —Great care is required at this time to 
avoid chills, such as those resulting from cold currents of air and drench¬ 
ing the borders with cold water. Now the foliage is increasing root 
action will be excited, and should be encouraged by supplying tepid 
water at a temperature not exceeding 90°, not allowing the fermenting 
materials to decline in heat at this critical stage. It is a good plan to 
keep a heap of leaves and stable manure in reserve, from which the 
supply may be drawn as required. Disbud and tie the shoots down 
before they touch the glass, not being in too great a hurry in stopping 
nor restricting to a certain number of joints beyond the bunch, yet 
there ought to be two, and better three or four ; but extend the growth 
so as to insure plenty of well-developed foliage, yet avoid overcrowding. 
Remove superfluous bunches as soon as choice can be made of the best, 
avoiding overcropping. Keep the house at 70° to 75° by artificial means 
as the flowers open, and maintain a rather drier condition of the atmo¬ 
sphere. As soon as the fruit is set Vines in pots may be copiously 
supplied with liquid manure, maintaining a moist atmosphere. Damp 
the paths two or three times a day, and occasionally with liquid manure, 
keeping the evaporation troughs charged with the same. 
Houses to Afford Rijye Grapes in, June. —The Vines that are to supply 
these should be started at once, abundance of fermenting materials 
being placed on the outside border ; or if it be already protected with a 
good thickness of dry fern or litter fermenting materials may be dis¬ 
pensed with, and if wooden shutters or glazed lights are at eommand for 
throwing off the rain it will be an advantage. Supply the inside border 
thoroughly with water at a temperature of 90°, and economise fuel by 
the free use of fermenting materials inside the house. Damp the house 
and Vines two or three times a day when the weather is bright, but ia 
dull weather once or at most twice a day will be ample. The tempera¬ 
ture should be 60° to 55° by artificial means, and 63° from sun heat. 
Houses in which the Grapes have been Cut. —Prune the Vines with 
as little delay as possible. This will cause the spurs in course of time 
to become long ; and so they do by any mode, bat it is easy to train up 
young canes for their displacement. Strip off all loose bark, no attempt 
at scraping being made, and wash the Vines with softsoap and water. 
Avoid pigments, which leave a deposit on the Vines. Remove the sur¬ 
face soil or mulching down to the roots, and supply fresh material. 
Keep the house cool, but if utilised for plants the temperature arti- 
