August 30,1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
193 
green manure is not produced, for the land only grows such weeds 
as seeds are blown on to it, and. from those brought up with a 
change of crop, as every advantage is taken to deepen the soil. 
Manure is out of the question at 10s. per ton on the land ; besides, 
it is often so heated before it arrives there as to have little nature 
left. The county councils are improving the roads of rural 
England, and this fact gave the grower an opportunity of acquir¬ 
ing some solid matter, to wit, heaps of turfy parings, which 
collectively formed a huge pile, for it went on the land as soon as 
fit. This was effected during the summer. It was stacked like 
an ordinary compost heap, heated somewhat, and was turned 
outside to inside. When put up a hundredweight of kainit 
was sprinkled through every cartload of parings, and at the 
turning a similar quantity of freshly slaked lime. The parings 
came out quite mellow in the autumn. Some of the old soil 
was removed over the roots of each bush, and a coat of the 
compost given in its place, and that covered with soil from the 
spaces between the bushes. Thus the bushes had fresh soil, and 
when the fruit was set 2 lbs. of nitrate of soda per rod did the 
rest, for a branch-breaking crop—in fact there were two—a half 
peck per tree of green berries, and strong fine ripe Gooseberries, 
which pay better than the green ones if only the weather proves 
favourable. 
Another heap had a cartload of the ash of dried weeds and 
hedge trimmings added to every ten of compost, and this gave the 
best return in Plums. Indeed, our plodding instructor insists on 
Plums needing lime, potash, magnesia, iron, and nitrogen to make 
them swell early. Then they do not “ crack their skins at ripen¬ 
ing time if the weather be showery. For the Pears the material is 
better with the house refuse thrown on it, but I found out the 
more the waste of lanes, plantation, and household were utilised 
the better the fruit crops were. Some were under the weed- 
manuring system still, for only crops are kept on the land while 
they are young and profitable. That I see plainly is the way to 
obtain full and profitable crops out of the land. 
Another point deserves notice. Plums are gathered and sold 
green. They make better tarts or pies and puddings than ripe 
ones, and pay better, as there is always a blank between the green 
Gooseberries and Plums. Besides, gathering half or more of the 
Plums green eases the trees, so that they bear more regularly, the 
ripe crop being finer and less liable to suffer from wet. The 
better quality Plums, as Denniston’s Superb, Early Transparent, 
and Jefferson, make excellent preserves in the green condition, 
and are more firm and better than imported Gages, while such 
as Rivers’ Early, Czar, and Victoria, taken on the turn for 
ripening, boil splendidly, and those once trying them are sure to 
buy again. 
Then there is the winter pruning. It is easily done, for all the 
trees are on low stems ; no higher in any case than to keep the 
fruit clear of the ground, and the heads are within reach of any 
person of ordinary stature. Gooseberries have the branches 
thinned out to give place to young and promising as soon after 
the ripe berries are off as practicable and spreading branches are 
shortened. That is all they have or require—abundant growths 
so as to admit the hand freely between them, and no old shoots or 
worthless spray. 
Kentish and Morello Cherry trees require little pruning beyond 
removing dead spurs. It is the same with Plums. A gloved hand 
does the work quickly, while with a knife the worn-out branches 
are removed in favour of young and well-placed ones. Summer 
pruning is confined to shortening unruly growths in June or July, 
and removing those likely to crowd or cross to a few joints of 
their base. Apples and Pears are alike amenable to the practice, 
thinning the spurs while the leaves are on the trees, and the sooner 
after the crops are gathered the better, so as to give the trees a 
chance to recuperate and form buds for furnishing next year’s crop. 
—G. Abbey. 
SEASONABLE HINTS ON FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
Each season as it comes round, although it has to do with the 
same flowers, differs in its character, that the directions of one 
year will oftimes vary considerably from those of another. What, 
for instance, can be more different than the condition of florists' 
flowers in 1893 and the present year? In the former everything 
was parched, growth was feeble, and watering was the grand 
necessity, and even now in some parts of the country that terrible 
drought has left its mark. In the south-eastern part of England 
we have had a fair supply of rain, and with a temperature much 
lower than the average. This has been helpful to most kinds of 
florists’ flowers, which present, I think, in general a healthy 
appearance. 
Auriculas. 
These plants delight in a low temperature during the summer, 
and they are now in a favourable condition. The growth is short 
and sturdy, and the plants are evidently making an abundance of 
roots. There are some growers who defer the repotting of their 
plants until August, but generally speaking this is done, as in the 
case of my own plants, the end of May and early in June, and 
consequently they are now well re-established. The frames in 
which^ they are placed facing north should be watched to see that 
there is no drip falling into the pots, for this is fatal to Auriculas. 
The plants can stand frost and biting winds, although they do not 
particularly relish them, but sodden soil they cannot put up with. 
All dead leaves should at this time be removed, and if there be any 
appearance of green fly the pest should be brushed off before it 
does any damage, or the frames be fumigated. I am very 
indifferent now to the presence of woolly aphis amongst the roots, 
but think well when it appears round the collar of the plant to 
carefully remove it. Weeds should also be removed, and it is a 
good plan to occasionally stir the surface of the soil in the pots. 
No positive directions can be given on the subject of watering, as 
this will depend a good deal on the state of the atmosphere ; but as 
the days are now shorter, such frequent waterings will not be so 
necessary, but all this must be regulated by the experience of the 
grower. 
Carnations and Picotees. 
The frequent rains and low temperature have so contributed to 
the growth of these plants that there has been a difficulty in 
obtaining the wood firm enough for layering, while for the same 
reason the plants have produced more flowering stems than were 
desirable. As a rule the end of August is too late for this opera¬ 
tion, but should next month be favourable I have no doubt that 
the layer will be sufficiently well rooted before the winter sets in. 
I am referring, of course, to those plants in the open border, for 
where they are grown in pots they are much more under the control 
of the cultivator. It is remarkable what a change has taken place 
with regard to these flowers. As one of the old school of florists I 
should be very sorry if the taste for Selfs and Fancies, and what 
are generally called border flowers, was to oust the beautiful flakes 
and bizarres amongst Carnations, and the pure and delicately edged 
Picotees. There is this tendency I fear, and I can only hope that 
some of those who share my admiration for these plants will still 
uphold their cultivation. 
Lovers of Carnations owe a deep debt of gratitude to Mr. 
Martin R. Smith for the generous kindness he has shown in helping 
forward their cultivation. He last year distributed to the members 
of the National Carnation and Picotee Society packets of his 
hybridised seed. So good was this that of the 120 seeds sent to me 
not one has refused to grow. The plants are now strong and 
healthy, and I look forward with a good deal of curiosity to their 
blooming next season ; and it is remarkable when the fashion sets in 
for a particular flower what unlooked results are obtained. Thus 
the breaks that Mr. Smith gained in the “Malmaison” group and 
the yellows of Mr. Douglas’s raising are unlooked for advantages, 
and we know not, of course, what else may be before us. 
When the layers are rooted, which should be by the middle of 
next month, they ought to be taken off and potted singly or in 
pairs, using as a compost good loam and a little sand. Many 
persons put the border kinds out at once, but I am not an advocate 
for this, as our winters are so uncertain, and severe frost and 
extreme wet are alike injurious to them, and when both are com¬ 
bined very fatal. I therefore pot all mine and keep them in cold 
frames all the winter, and if they are given abundance of air and 
watering is carefully attended to there will be no fear of the 
dreaded spot. 
Gladioli and Pansies. 
Gladioli are now in their full beauty, and in some respects, snch 
as elegance of form and variety of colour, may be fairly placed at 
the head of autumn flowers. In both of these respects the Dahlia 
is far behind, while for cutting for house decoration they will not 
bear comparison. At this season they of course require merely 
the attention of staking and tying, and weeding when necessary. 
To those of ns who live in the south of England this has been 
a favourable season for Pansies. Our drier and sunnier climate is 
not so well suited for them as the north and Scotland, where they 
are to be seen in their greatest beauty. In the drought of last 
season whole collections of them were swept away ; but this year 
there are comparatively few losses. Now is a very good time to 
root cuttings. These should be taken off and placed round the 
edges of pots, which ought afterwai’ds to be put in a cold frame, 
shaded from the sun but secured from damp, while the old plants 
may be left in the ground or pots, and afterwards divided. The 
plants raised from cuttings are by far the best. In these remarks 
