174 
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THE FLORIST. 
of soil effectually prevents summer crops from suffering during dry 
weather. On these ridges I have seen Cauliflowers, Cabbage, &c., 
planted so thickly that the surface was literally paved. The forcing of 
Seakale and Rhubarb is carried on in a private garden or “ slip;” so that 
the litter and dirt attending this operation is comparatively out of sight. 
In another portion of the slip, we noticed large quantities of single 
Russian, Neapolitan, and double purple Violets, which are grown very 
extensively by Mr. Barnes. The Russian variety is propagated partly 
from seed which is sown early in the spring, and afterwards transplanted ; 
the other varieties are propagated from runners, or dividing the plants ; 
these are planted out on shady borders in the spring, and by August 
they make strong plants, at which time they are transferred in quantity 
to turf pits, where thatched hurdles serve to protect them during 
the winter. Large quantities are also planted in front of the plant 
houses, where their perfume during the summer months is very grateful. 
The way in which they are secured from wet and cold winds in this 
situation is very ingenious. In front of the house in which it is 
intended to plant them, a row of rock-stones or bricks is placed 
sufficiently high to contain a depth of six or eight inches of soil, which 
consists of waste soil from under the potting benches; in this the plants 
are planted. From the edge of the stones to the front of the house, at 
about a foot above the plants, a piece of Nottingham net or thin gauze 
is tacked, which screens the plants from cold winds, and they are found 
to bloom as freely as if under glass. 
The Apple orchard at Bicton during the past season presented a 
striking contrast to those in the neighbourhood, and in fact to every 
one I have had an opportunity of seeing during the past summer. In 
this the trees were loaded throughout the orchard with beautiful fruit; 
we do not recollect having ever seen a more abundant crop in any season. 
The plan adopted by Mr. Barnes will, I think, be new to many of your 
readers. It has been his practice for many seasons to collect large 
quantities of combustible refuse; such as old saw-dust, weeds, tree- 
leaves, small sticks, &c., and cart them to the orchard. Of these 
materials several fires are made in different parts of the orchard, which 
do not, however, burn rapidly, but are allowed to smoke and burn 
steadily for three or four weeks from the time the trees commence to 
blossom. To this practice Mr. Barnes attributes the preservation of his 
crop. In what way are we to account for the good effects produced by 
these fires ? Is it the smoke which in passing amongst the trees has 
preserved them from the attacks of aphids ? I am aware that some 
persons have attributed the failure to this cause, as in many instances 
the trees were completely defoliated. I think, however, another 
beneficial result may be attributed to the effects of the fires. It has 
recently been remarked by one of our most intelligent cultivators, tliat 
“ the most favourable circumstances for the blossoming of fruit trees 
are a bright sun and cold dry winds from north to south-east;—three 
or four degrees of frost at night are of no ill-consequence : this is the 
climate of the great fruit-growing districts of Germany, where in most 
seasons such enormous crops of Plums are grown.” Now it is well 
known that one of the effects of fire is the rarefaction of the surrounding 
