327 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, August 24,1858. 
mean to say that the bulbs would be greatly injured 
by separating them singly, but they seldom bloom the 
following year so well as when merely divided, or re¬ 
potted in a lump, after extricating some of the smaller 
bulbs. In winter they should be kept dryish, but left 
in the pots, and these not allowed to become dust-dry. 
In potting, keep the bulbs well down in the pot, so 
that the tops are three or four inches from the rim 
of the pot, which will permit of rich surface-dressings 
as young whorls of roots are thrown out from the base 
of the shoots. When the shoots are from twelve to 
eighteen inches long, the plants will relish weak 
manure water. The quantity of water must be regu¬ 
lated by the weather and the rate of growth, just as in 
the case of the Tropaeolum, though the Liliums are 
less easily injured. We have known plants bloom well 
in the same pots for years. 
Dividing Greenhouse Ferns. —The best time to 
divide these is just when fresh growth is taking 
place, generally in spring; but any time will do for 
house Ferns, unless when they are in a state of rest, 
and very actively growing, and sending up strong 
young fronds. Just when they begin to make fresh 
growth is the best time in all cases, as the roots take 
hold of the fresh soil at once, there being a reciprocal 
action between roots and the young shoots of fronds. 
It is advisable to keep the atmosphere moister and 
closer, and even warmer, after such division, in order 
that fresh growth may be at once accelerated. The 
best soil for Maiden-Hairs is about two parts turfy 
loam, and one of fibry peat, with about one-sixth of 
silver sand for established plants. For young plants 
give more peat, and a little sweet leaf mould. 
R. Fish. 
THE APPLE—ITS HABITS, CULTURE, &c. 
At first sight, it may appear rather preposterous to 
offer observations under the above heading ; but when 
we consider the various conditions and various degrees 
of success we meet with, there will appear ample room 
to offer a few remarks. It being alike esteemed by 
the Prince and the peasant, its appreciation is uni¬ 
versal, and this is common to most countries. The 
chief facts with which we have to deal are the fol¬ 
lowing :— Soils, Climates, Situations, Habits, Diseases, 
Insects, and Fungi. 
As- to Soils, there is no doubt the Apple prefers a 
sound loam, one rather inclined to adhesiveness, rather 
than the sandy principle. However, we find them 
grown tolerably well on a variety of soils,—on peaty, 
sandy, clayey, and on ordinary garden soils. But 
these have, in general, to be corrected, in some degree, 
to meet the requirements of this tree. In all cases, 
they prefer a sound bottom, where no stagnation 
exists. If such be a dry gravel, they require a good, 
sound, or adhesive soil above, and one of a good 
depth. On clays I have known them succeed with a 
very shallow surface soil, that being of a generous 
character. As for peaty soils, they, of course, require 
to be thoroughly drained, and should go through a 
course of vegetable culture previous, in order to con¬ 
solidate them. Sandy soils require strengthening by 
more solid materials, such as adhesive loams, marls, 
and even a mellow clay. But, if I must give a pre¬ 
ference to any particular soil, it must be a sound loam 
of thirty inches in depth, on a dry gravel. 
Climate is our next consideration. This we cannot 
rule, of course; but we may select, and even correct. 
I believe that many kinds succeed better in what is 
termed a cold climate, than in the closeness of a warm 
kitchen garden; at the same time, there are other and 
tender kinds which need a degree of coddling, such 
as the kitchen garden affords. But there is much in 
locality, and over this part of the subject we have 
little control. What has made Devon and Hereford 
into such orchard districts, is a fair subject for inquiry. 
It cannot be soil alone ; it cannot be in any peculiar 
compost; it is probably , and in great part, an atmos¬ 
pheric affair. But the fact is, that whatever attempts 
have been made, and many have, doubtless, been made in 
past generations, they stand unrivalled still, in the same 
way as Cheshire for its cheese. As to the amelioration of 
any given climate, we all know that thorough drainage 
in damp districts will accomplish wonders, not only for 
fruits, but also for vegetables, and last, though not 
least, for mankind. I speak here of the amelioration 
of the atmosphere, irrespective of the soil, as belonging 
to the present portion of our subject. 
We next come to the consideration of the different 
habits of different kinds. This is very considerable, 
and concerns both the soil and the atmosphere. 
To plant weak, delicate, and short-jointed kinds on 
poor, hot, upland soils, would be as improper a pro¬ 
ceeding as to plant gross and robust kinds on deep 
and enriched soils containing much moisture. Some 
kinds will enjoy a fair proportion of manures, others 
may not be trusted with it. 
But Insects claim a consideration, and this, too, 
bears on the question of soils. Hot and dry, or ex¬ 
tremely shallow soils, are ever favourable to their pro¬ 
duction,—at least, of some kinds ; and the same may 
be said of a dry condition of air. Therefore, in plant¬ 
ing orchards, or even single trees, regard should be 
had to this fact. Nothing gratifies the red spider 
more than to be able to cast his lot on some unfor¬ 
tunate tree that is always liable to drought, through a 
shallow, loose, and incoherent soil. The aphis family 
would rather seem to revel on healthy subjects ; albeit, 
they soon make them unhealthy. 
Then we have a host of caterpillars, as also scaly in¬ 
sects, and lastly, the worst of all, the American blight. 
As to the caterpillars, I am not assured that they con¬ 
cern the question of soil,—perhaps they have more to 
do with atmospheric conditions. There is no preventive, 
as far as I am aware, to apply to these insects ; cu¬ 
rative measures,—as handpicking, &c., are generally 
resorted to. As to the scale, that I can a ffir m demands 
preventive measures. I have for many years observed, 
that the scale is almost certain to attack Apple trees 
of considerable size, when removed, and a dry period 
supervenes in June. And this points to the propriety 
of taking extra means to prevent it by liberal water¬ 
ings in due season,—even using liquid manures freely. 
The American blight is all but invincible. We have 
had hundreds of recipes during the last fifty years, 
and, I believe, not one has obtained universal sanction. 
As concerns soils, I am not aware whether any pre¬ 
ventive measures can be employed, or whether they 
have any bearing, curative measures being generally 
adopted. 
And now we come to that, perhaps, almost invisible 
pest, fungi. But want of space compels our remarks 
on this and the remaining heads to be deferred till 
next week. R. Errington. 
BLACK EAGLE GRAPE. 
We have been favoured by a correspondent with the fol¬ 
lowing information relative to this Grape, mentioned in our 
last number:— 
“ The Black JEagle is well known in Lancashire. I have 
it in pots ; but I do not mean to grow it any more. It is, no 
doubt, a very fine bearer, but the berries are small, and the 
bunches anything but handsome. At all events, it ought not 
to be grown in the same house as the Black Hamburghl 
—W. C. 
