THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, November 6, 1860. 
81 
moisture applied more than that which evaporated from the j 
Euchsias and tall Cacti, which were grown and kept in the vinery 
until the fruit began to colour. These were syringed freely twice 
every day. The floor by this means was also kept damp the 
whole of the time, which kept up a continual evaporation until 
these plants were removed for the sake of maturing the fruit, 
some of which was ripe, and eight bunches cut on the 28th of 
July, when not a few of the berries were three inches and a half 
in circumference; and now, the 4th of October, I have cut 116 
bunches, which have weighed above 170 lbs., and have enough to 
last no small period now. 
This year’s canes are fine, look healthy, and are nicely ripened 
—one of the principal points for next year’s fruit, and traceable, 
such a season as this, to neither more nor less than the high 
feeding which was administered to them at that juncture, when 
they really seemed as if they would ask you for help, which here 
I was well enabled to supply them with ; for both W. S. Feather- 
stone, Esq., and C. M. Major, Esq., my joint employers, are the 
greatest advocates for this Garibaldi-like agent—liquid manure, 
and are also unanimous in their opinions as to the value and 
advantages that are to be derived from the continual use of this 
most powerful agent. 
The cow-houses and piggeries at the farm are drained into a 
large tank or cistern; the stables are drained into another in the 
same manner; and, should these be empty, we have another large 
one underneath the manure heap, where, if wanted, a quantity 
can be made in a few hours. From these tanks the liquid is 
taken and used for various kinds of vegetables, as well as fruits, 
with the most beneficial results. 
Mildew has paid me a visit here. But why ? We have a few 
bunches at the front of the house close against the front lights, 
which received the benefit of the syringe when the plants that 
were growing close against them were syringed, which I firmly 
believe was the sole cause of the pest making its appearance at 
all. These were never dry for many hours together; now they 
look dirty and scarcely fit for table, while the others that received 
no syringing look as clean as a new pin. 
Therefore, taking in the whole treatment at a glance :—high 
feeding in the growing season, with a moist, growing atmosphere 
in the house —reversing this treatment when the Grapes begin to 
colour—keeping them, both house and border, as dry as possible 
—are some of the most essential points to be aimed at for good 
Grape-growing.—A. J. Ashman. 
GOOSEBERRY AND LATE-PEA GROWING BY 
THE YORKSHIRE WEAVERS. 
In that part of the WestRidingof York lying between Leeds and 
Huddersfield, may be found a number of hard-working artizans, 
who spend their spare time in the cultivation of their gardens, 
and are celebrated for the superior flowers and vegetables which 
they produce and exhibit at the various Horticultural Exhibitions 
in the district where they reside. The number of prizes which 
some of them obtain show that their time has not been mis¬ 
spent. There are some who can show their plated teapot, silver 
teaspoons and cup, and other valuables, and the money prizes 
which they receive often amount to a useful sum. A Gooseberry- 
grower now dead used to boast of his thirty copper kettles, and 
a good number of brass pans which he had won, and he had the 
whole of them hung up in his cottage, refusing either to sell or 
part with them—even when his daughters married he would buy 
them a kettle rather than lessen his show of prizes ; and I have 
no doubt some of our poultry exhibitors will say, “ I know by 
experience they would take no little cleaning.” 
The month of September is not the time to sow Peas to win a 
prize, nor has the present month (October) been a good one for 
the Pea-grower, yet some of our cottagers have shown some very 
good specimens which have caused some inquiries as to the 
method by which they have been grown; and Mr. Fish having 
last year mentioned his surprise at the cottagers’ productions 
shown at Kirkstal, I will give the method by which one success¬ 
ful exhibitor grows his Peas. Once a-week or ten days a trench 
is thrown out and filled with a mixture of fresh loam and highly- 
decomposed manure. The Peas (Ne Plus Ultra is the greatest 
favourite), are sown in a single row three inches from Pea to Pea. 
When about one inch and a half high they are earthed, and in a 
few days receive a second earthing ; they are then staked—the 
stakes must be a little higher than the Pea will grow. As soon 
as the Peas get into flower and the pods are set—and this is an 
important operation—the haulm must be stopped above the 
fourth flower, and in the case of twin flowers the weakest must 
be nipped off when the pods are half grown. They must be 
placed in a position where they will not rub against the stakes. 
Water must be given in dry weather—in fact, they must never 
receive a check from the want of it. By attending to these few 
simple rules a dish of Peas may be produced which will run a 
fair chance of obtaining a prize.—R. S. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Greenhouse Ferns (D .).—It will be worth your while to buy our 
No. 518. In that you will find a descriptive list of them filling nearly two 
pages. You will thence be able to select those of a habit to suit various 
places in your greenhouse. If you send four postage stamps, stating your 
direction, we will send the number. If you need any further information 
we shall readily give it. 
Various (M. A.).— The plants will not be injured by burning coke in 
the room if it be well ventilated during the burning. By a pole of ground 
is intended as much surface as is contained in a square, each side of which 
measures yards, equal to 30f square yards. Whether the young Chest¬ 
nut, the bark of which has been eaten off by some animal, must be removed 
depends entirely upon the extent of the debarking. If not eaten off allround, 
or if the inner bark is not destroyed, then, by paring off the edges of the 
wound smoothly with a sharp knife, and covering, and keeping it covered, 
with a plaister composed of clay and cowdung, the wound will heal, and 
fresh bark gradually form over it. If the debarking is deep and extensive, 
the tree had better be removed and another planted. 
Work on Vink Culture (Helium).— If you require one on out-door 
culture, there is none better than Mr. Roberts’ volume; if on in-door 
culture, not one is superior to Mr. Sanders’ little book ; if on pot culture, 
that by Mr. Elphinstone; but before you buy these see if our “ Fruit 
Gardening for the Many,” will not for fourpence give you all the informa¬ 
tion you need. 
Heating a Boiler by Gas (A Constant Header). —A single jet of gas 
under the boiler would not keep up a sufficient heat in your greenhouse 
(20 feet by 8 feet), even if it be a lean-to. A ring of jets, probably, would 
be sufficient. Gas burnt outside the house certainly will not injure the 
plants inside the house. 
Garbening on a Colb Clayey Soil (Marian). —The best, because the 
most speedy and most effectual mode of rendering the soil “ gardenable,” 
is to pare and burn it—that is, dig off a spade’s depth (about nine inches), 
of the surface, and piling it in a heap, burn it to a red powder as they are 
doing just now at the Albert Gate, Hyde Park. That red powder forked into 
the soil will render it more friable than any other application. In addition 
you may apply any quantity of limy bricklayer’s rubbish, and fork that 
into the soil also. 
Daphne Leaves Becoming Yellow (J. M.). —The Daphne generally 
loses a few leaves like other evergreens. Yours have the appearance that 
the plant had suffered from cold, extra moisture, and deficient drainage. 
Vines not Fruiting (IF. M. B .).—We should like to have known the 
sort of Vines, and if they were attacked with insects or not. We are not 
gifted with clairvoiance, and you give no particulars. If tender kinds, the 
cold season might have affected them ; but, then, that would not have pre¬ 
vented them showing fruit if otherwise healthy. We fear there is something 
wrong at the roots. 
Making a Carnation-beb (H. S. D.).— Plants of Carnations from seeds 
sown in the spring of 1859 must be strong enough in your part of Ireland to 
bear transplanting any week from October to May; but November, when the 
weather happens to be dry, is about the very best time to do them. Strong 
clay soil like yours is always more easy to manage for Carnations than 
light sandy soil; and the best thing for seedling Carnations on clay land 
is to make a raised bed 4 feet wide for them, to be 3 inches or 4 inches above 
the level of the rest of the ground; then the soil for the first 10 inches 
in depth to be one-half of your clay soil, the other half of such odds and 
ends as most people can scrape up on their premises, the best of which 
is a quantity of old mortar or plaster, and old thatch of some pulled-down 
building, and if it was pulled down ten years since all the better. One-half 
of such stuff and one-half of the ashes of burnt turf and wood make the finest 
and best composition in the world for all Carnations and Carnation tribes of 
plants along with one-half such clay land as yours is. From the days of 
Gilbert and the great florist his father-in-law, 200 years back, lime rubbish 
was known to be the best ingredient in the compost for Carnations; then 
decayed thatch from straw, fern, heather, orturf, and the smoke-stained turf 
thatch of old cottages the best of all. Such turf being in effect charcoal 
saturated with soot. But except in the Highlands of Scotland and in country 
parts in Ireland it is difficult to find this kind of thatch for compost. Then 
the next best substitute is burnt turf and burnt faggot wood. All the Carna¬ 
tion tribes are more or less alpines in the wilds of Nature, and they like 
free drainage more than most plants on that account; they also like a 
holding soil, or strong soil to hold water a long while, provided the 
drainage is goodbelow, and the surface is made.porous by those ingredients. 
They also, all of them, the Dianthus or Carnation tribes, like the full open 
sun, and not to be shaded by anything; and in no part of Ireland will the 
Carnations from seeds require the least shelter, as they are sure to be more 
hardy than more delicate kinds which have been raised a long time from 
layers. 
Green on Stone Stage of Conservatory (Eight-years Subscriber).— 
We know of no mode of preventing this cryptogamic growth on the stone¬ 
work, except painting it annually stone colour. We have heard that 
soaking the stone with brine occasionally will prevent it. Dr. Hogg’s 
“ Fruit Manual ” is published, price 3s. 6 d. 
Sowing Genista racemosa (E. IF.).—The seeds of Genista racemosa 
might have been sown as soon as ripened, but will now be best kept till 
spring when they may be sown in gentle heat. The plants are—1. Genista 
canariensis. 2. Platycerium alcicorne, or Elk’s-horn Fern. There are two 
or three other species of the same family. 3. Some Diosma-like plant, 
