NoVEMIiKIt 18. 
levelling tlie old tan, &c., and fresh hark to the depth of 
eleven inches was spread all over the bed; in this I 
turned out lifty jilants, out of their juits, with their halls 
entire, (ind all j/erfevted their fruit from the beginning 
of August to the end of October. Thinking, however, a 
great improvement might be made in this method of 
planting out in the tan, 1 tried the following experi¬ 
ment, which fullii (itisirered my ex|)cctations. At the 
time these plants were showing fruit, i added two or 
three inches if fresh tun all over the roots of twenty, 
beating it down witli the s|iado; and the bcuelicial 
r(;sult was shown in the swelling of their fruit. When 
these wore cut, the suckers growing on all the plants 
were of a [irodigious size; and liad 1 then Jenown the 
ciUue of iJu'ir jiroduue, hy lelliug tlicm remain attached 
to the old stoids, their second fruits might have been 
ripened by the following October.” 
Tiiis is a long extract, luit we do not feel called upon 
to oiler an apology, seeing that it is Mr. Hamilton wo 
would fain represent, and it is, i)Grhaps, well that he 
should speak for himsc'lf: our comments thereon will he 
at least harmless, and the public will bo in a jtosition 
to .judge freely for themselves. JJefore proceeding far¬ 
ther, we would beg attention to the italics, which we 
have superadded to the original text, in order to direct 
the eyes of the uninitiated to the chief features of the 
Hamiltonian plan. And now a few words to illustrate 
some of thoso matters before farther details. It will bo 
seen, that the experiments here related were undertaken 
for a double jmrpose, viz., to tost tlio productive powers 
of the pine grown in tan, and to ascertain if pines could 
be compelled to “show” througli the medium of a check, 
without loss of size in the fruit. The tan matter appears 
to bo established beyond disjudo, although, of course, 
the (piestion still remains whether it is the most desir¬ 
able medium. 'J'his, it apjioars is, in a great degree, ne¬ 
gatived by Mr. Hamilton's subsequent practice. Mr. 
H., however, says in a note, “I used tan at Thoru- 
lield, but none in the now house here; but they like 
the smell of tan.” 
As to the check producing fruit, this is what, indeed, 
might be cx|) 0 ct 6 d; in most fruits with whicli we are 
acquainted, a chock on a healtliy subject, after a fair 
amount of liberal growth, generally produces this result, 
light being in due proportion. The tyro may hero learn, 
tliat in the case of the pine such was not accomjjlishcd 
witiiout deterioration of size; this, indeed, agrees with 
the experience of all our most celebrated pine growers : 
the breaking up of the disrooting system some years 
since wiis the signal for an abandonment of the “ check 
system.” 
Again; Mr. Hamilton gives this caution—“ 1 wish also 
to observe, that when ])ine plants are turned out in the ' 
winter season, tlicir growth is so rapid, that except they \ 
have plenty of air and light, the young leaves are aj)t to i 
blanch, h’or several weeks after planting, tlio surface of ! 
the tan ought to bo frequently stirred with a rake or i 
long stick, to prevent any fungi breeding, to effect the 
escape of superabundant bottom-heat, to allow the atmo¬ 
sphere to have free access to the roots, and to keep the 
tan in a clean, ])urc state.” 
It may be here asked, why so much about the tan, if 
Mr. Hamilton has ceased to use it? This is a fair 
question, and wo answer, because we think tan-culluro 
stilt an open question; and also, because localities dillbr 
so much. Thoso who live next door to a coal-pit will 
hardly care for tan ; but we can imagine cases in which 
parties would be justified in making a liberal use of it; 
moreover, Mr. Hamilton himself has never, as far as we 
arc aware, totally repudiated its use, whether as a heat¬ 
ing medium or for planting in. 
VVe have been speaking all along of “notes” received 
from Mr. Hamilton, but we lind it expedient to have 
recourse to his most useful little book; which, indeed. 
121 
should bo well road by all about to embark in Pine- 
culture without any previous practical knowledge. 
Candid readers will readily allow for any little “ slii)s of 
tlio pen ” for the sake of tiie breadth of Mr. H.’s views; 
I'or no sooner is ho studied carefully, than those hard 
fetters imposed by a time-honoured routine, seem to fall 
olf one by one ; and the would-be )iinc grower speedily 
acquires an amount of freedom before unknown. This, 
arising from a perception of its simplicity, makes us 
fancy that pots, crocks, shifts, composts, &C., are passing 
away like a dissolving view. 
Pages 40 to 48 in Mr. Hamilton’s second edition, 
now on the table, are occupied witli experiments 
strongly corroborative of the planting-out system; in 
which, of course, pots, jiotting niceties, with other 
time-consuming matters, arc dispensed with; and it 
is evident that if even Pine-culture were for the 
million, either this or some other high amount of 
simplification must be put in requisition. Of course, 
space will not permit many more quotations from the 
book, and wo will proceed to finish our ohservations 
about cultural matters on the jilanting-out plan; and in 
a succeeding paper will just skim over the great essen¬ 
tials; or rather skim the very cream from Hamilton’s 
dish, in order to leave the main features strong on the 
mind of the reader. After this, we do hope to hear of 
Pine-culture becoming a necessary jiortion of every 
gardening system with the middle classes. This, witli 
the Orchard-house, are, perhaps, the two most prominent 
features in modern fruit-gardening; and surely The 
Cottage GAanEXEit may fairly lay claim to having 
“ |)crformed its mission well ” in these things. 
Wo last week thought it necessary, in order fairly to 
elucidate the subject, to pop a few questions to Air. 
Hamilton chielly on the subject of after-culture on the 
]ilanting-out system. We will give the enquiries and 
answers verbatim. 
“ 1st. How long after planting before they require 
culture’? 
Ans. All kinds would be better by a little soil on the 
suri’aco once a year. 
,2nd. Do you advocate the use of tan u]) the stems ? 
Ans. I used tan at Thornhcld, but not now; they, 
however, like the smell of tan. 
3rd. How about leaf-stripping? 
Ans. He very careful of cutting your leaves. 
4lh. How about choice of suckers? 
Ans. Hliould never destroy a ground-sucker unless 
the jilant was already too low in the bed. 
5th. What number retained when jilenty ? 
Ans. 1 never leave more than three. 
(1th. Are they chosen by succession or quality ? 
Ans. By quality. 
7th. When are they removed or thinned out? 
ylfis. 1 tear all superfluous suckers out when six or 
eight inches high. 
8th. How many to a stool, on tho average? 
Ans. Three; two stem-suckers and one ground. 
i)th. Ho you over water at root ? 
Ans. I have watered at root twice this summer. 
10th. Any plan for checking size in tho -crown ? 
Ans. They want none.” 
Our readers will see how much 1 have to thank Mr. 
Hamilton; indeed, had he not been a very old and well- 
known friend such liberties could not have been taken. 
As it is, tho only thing to regret is that we could not 
have the benefit of a regular chit-chat over tho affair; 
distance, &c., precluded the possibility. Still, it is to be 
hoped that enough will have been stated to prove a 
pretty good guide to those seeking information, in our 
next pajier on the subject, which may be deferred for a 
week or two, wo shall work up some useful facts, which 
will throw farther light on tho system; in the meantime, 
wo invite young beginners to put what questions they 
THE COTTAGE GAllDENEH. 
