May 15.] 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
97 
of inferior flavour in fruits; and, indeed, it is one of 
those points, that in spite of the extraordinary advances 
made in later years in general gardening (perhaps more 
than in any other art or science), one of those points, 
we repeat, which is still but half appreciated. The 
great drawback to the carrying out to the full the 
minutiae of modern horticulture, is, doubtless, the amount 
of labour and incessant application needed. And, in¬ 
deed, this is not trifling, for gardeners are anything but 
an idle race. Still, we must in duty point to every 
I tiling which has a tendency to the highest cultural 
: points attainable, and leave it to our readers to work out 
as many as possible. 
We shall, doubtless, soon receive a visit from our old 
i foe, the caterpillar, and although many applications have 
: been suggested, yet from their being not only somewhat 
j tedious, but what is much worse, inefficient, as far as we 
can learn, it would appear that there is nothing better 
than shaking and handpicking. Two persons, one on 
each side of the bush, each having a piece of ordinary 
coarse cloth, equal in size to at least half the diameter 
of the bush, and each provided with a hooked stick, will 
soon make a clever job of some scores of trees. Each 
person, of course, spreads his cloth, and shakes his side, 
and the contents are collected by each, and deposited in 
some vessel. This should, like the Aphides case, receive 
attention the moment the rogues appear, and will need re¬ 
peating at intervals. Gooseberries on trellisses, for late 
purposes, will require some little disbudding like other 
trained trees; but as they will occasionally produce very 
nice fruit on spurs, it will be well to pinch back many 
shoots instead of disbudding; this, of coui’se, depends 
on the amouut of shade they create. The gooseberry, 
like all other fruits in a state of training, requires an 
equalised amount of light; and just in proportion as 
this is afforded, and a healthy surface of foliage main¬ 
tained, so will be the quality and fineness of the fruit. 
The White and Red Currant. —We must again 
advert to the watery or succulent “ breast-wood,” which 
in healthy bushes will be apt to become unwieldy by the 
end of the month. There is as much need to pinch or 
stop this as vine spray. Some persons will say, why 
did Nature furnish this, if to be pruned away ? But the 
same question may be put concerning all other artistic 
proceedings. The fact is, that Nature, aiming at little 
more than the perpetuation of the species, affords, under 
ordinary conditions, no more sap than is just necessary 
to develop a small annual growth; enough to fulfil, 
through increased elaboratory powers, the immediate, as 
well as the perspective powers of the bush or tree. But 
man requires something more. He has ascertained, 
that although he cannot, perhaps, increase the number 
of seeds in any given fruit, he can, by high culture, much 
enhance both the quantity and the quality ofthe pulp ; to 
effect which, he is obliged to have recourse to stimuli 
unknown to trees or branches in a state of nature. For, 
however much such may be annually refreshed in the 
forest by an annual deposit of vegetable remains, then- 
conquerors of the garden have the immense advantage 
of a well-stirred soil, and such, moreover, generally of 
greater depth, with the addition of animal manure. 
Such, then, exhibits a reason why so much handling is 
requisite in a garden, where the highest cultural point 
is sought to be carried. Indeed, look at our exhibition 
tables in these days. Can any one doubt the vast range 
afforded to the intelligent mind of man, by our gracious 
Creator, in the vegetable kingdom, both as regards 
cultural matters, and the advance by hybridisation ; to 
both of which no living man can assign fixed limits? 
To go back to the currants. Let all side spray of a 
free growing character be pinched, or dubbed back, as 
soon as some four or five inches in length, taking care 
to have plenty of leaves at their bases to screen the 
fruit; for, however much the latter may be improved in 
flavour by a total removal of shade at the eleventh hour, 
there is not a shadow of doubt that the tender fruit of 
the currant, like the grape vine, shrinks from the burn¬ 
ing glare of a Midsummer’s sun. The points of the 
shoots, too, may be shortened by some means; but as 
Nature abhors too much of man’s meddling at one 
stroke, we must be content to “ catch her with guile.” 
Therefore we say, dub in the breast shoots betimes, and 
top the leaders about a fortnight after; by which period 
there will have taken place a re-adjustment of matters, 
and a fresh economy in the flow of the sap. 
The Black Currant. —Whilst on the subject of 
currants, we may as well turn our attention, for a mo¬ 
ment, to the black currant, which, although not precisely 
fit to rank amongst the aristocrats of Pomona, is yet 
exceedingly useful to thousands, and as wholesome as it 
is useful. Two points connected with high culture must 
by no means be lost sight of at this very period; viz. the 
extirpation of the Aphides, and the liberal application of 
moisture at the root whilst the berries are swelling. To 
favour the retention of the latter some mulching should 
by all means be applied. We are using tree leaves 
principally, for dung is a scarce article; however, three 
inches in thickness of half-rotten leaves are pretty effi¬ 
cient ; and these, by the autumn, become a complete 
j net-work of fibres. If a dry period should supervene 
any time during the swelling of the fruit, they should by 
all means be watered; not in a dribbling way, but a 
thorough drenching; and the soapsuds of the laundry 
may be added. Especially let them be kept moist when 
just out of blossom; it is at that period that the fly 
commences his attack, and drought favours much his 
advances; doubtless by rendering the secretions ofthe 
plant of higher quality through a less vigorous absorp¬ 
tion. The mixture advised for the peach wall will 
serve to repel or exterminate the invader. 
R. Errington. 
THE ELOWER-GARDEN. 
I have been very much interested by the letter of 
L. M. N. at page 55, and I perfectly agree with him on 
the effects of a damp mild winter on half-hardy plants. 
Damp is certainly more destructive among such things 
than frost under 19°, with a dry atmosphere. The 
effects of a comparatively mild March on growth, in the 
absence of sunlight, we have just witnessed A dry, 
very cold March, with the sun out every day, would have 
the same effect in retarding vegetation. But from a long 
course of experiments carried on annually for the last 
twenty years, I am led to believe that fruit blossoms, 
and all blossoms, will set better and more regularly in 
the absence of strong sunlight, if the atmosphere is dry, 
than they do in such weather as we have seen this 
last March, aud the first part of April, if accompanied 
by sunlight. If we had strong sunlight, and warm 
nights, with the amount of rain which fell this March, 
I believe the blossoms would have fared worse than 
they have done, aud L. M. N. has not overrated the extent 
of the mischief or misfortune done to the blossom of our 
fruit trees. The reasons for such a state of things arc not 
at all obscure, or difficult of comprehension. Indeed, I in¬ 
tended, this month, to explain the effects of the principle 
on which these observations are founded, before I read 
L M. N.’s letter. A check on vegetation at the flowering 
period is not inimical to the fertilization, or setting, ot 
blossoms, but exactly the reverse. Physiologists have 
never yet discussed this simple question so much as it 
deserves; but, on whatever principle it may be ac¬ 
counted for, of the fact itself I am as confident as I am 
of my own existence, for I have, over and over again, 
taken advantage ofthe principle at the moment a plant 
was in bloom to obtain seeds from it, after having failed 
