(i 
THE FLOEIST AXD FOMOLOGIST. 
L JAM AIIV, 
benies after bis own fashion, Avbicb was as 
follows :—He bad a pig-sty of substantial build, 
and both stj’e and yard were covered in from 
the rain, so that lie migbt be able to regulate 
the strensjtb of the iiianure-water with wliicli 
lieAvatered bis busbes ; and after tbc fruit was 
formed and began to swell (but not before), be 
let bis busbes lir'e in clover, so tbat tbe foliage 
was large and of a dark-green colour. Tbe 
soil used consisted of tbin turves of loamy 
pasture, so as not to clog witb tbe manure- 
Avater, on wbicb depended tbe success of tbe 
experiment. Mr. Barnes, formerly of Bicton, 
differed from most groivers in bis management 
of manure-Avater, for be filtered it first before 
applying it to bis plants, and said tbat tbougb 
be liked strong coffee himself, be did not like 
tbe grounds ; moreover, be held tbat tbe 
article migbt be strong, yet at tbe same time 
clear. Few, boAvever, have bad Mr. Barnes’s 
training, for be did Avondcrs Avitb cbai'coal 
in bis composts, and clear manure-Avater to 
stimulate tbe groAvtb of most of the better 
kinds of plants. 
Generally speaking, tbe Black Currant is 
neglected, and left to shift for itself in some 
cpiarter AA’bere it has been neither “ dug about 
nor dunged ” for years, in companj' witb some 
venerable gooseberry-bushes tbat have sur- 
viA’ed tbe cutting process, and have found eyes 
in tbe old Avood or adventitious buds tbat annu¬ 
ally bear crops of small but useful fruit. I 
am obliged to name tbe Gooseberry all tbrougb 
tbe piece, because tbe Black Currant lias never 
risen to tbe dignity of tbe Gooseberry, although 
I see no good reason AAdiy it should not be 
AA'eigbed against all comers at fruit sIioavs all 
over tbe country. If I am rightly informed, 
our Lancashire fruit-grower bad tbe honour of 
sending tbe great Goosebeny to tbe Boyal 
table, and tbat it Avas graciously accepted. 
Some tbii'ty years ago it happened twice— 
but only twice during a long life—tbat I bad 
more good manure than I knoAv Avbat to do 
Avitb, and it bad to be buried, for manuring 
Avas no name for getting rid of it. Tbe only 
chance Avas to trench a patch of ground cropped 
Avitb starving Eibes of sorts, green, j-ed, Avbite, 
and black ; and as it has often been remarked 
Avbcn one is short of space, there is generally 
room either upAvards or doAvinvards, ours Avas 
tbe doAviiAvard line. Tbe first year tbe crop 
Avas all but a failure, and although some neAv 
Avood Avas made, there was nothing to spare in 
the way of pruning. There Avas, indeed, nothing 
to attract attention tbe second year until tbe 
currants began to swell; and then, what with 
tbc summer sun above and the manure buried 
below, tbe crop surprised everybody, and 
clearly pointed to tbe Eibes tribe as scavengers 
AA'bere they can reach a body of filth paitly 
deodorised by lying some time in deeplytrenebed 
dry earth. It is not only to the quantity of fruit 
produced by heavy manuring tbat Ave should 
look, for tbe quality made tbe fruit more 
saleable and of more value in price. It is a 
marvellous dispensation of Divine Providence 
tbat tbe very filth of towns is tbe marrOAV of 
manuring for field or garden ; and cleanliness 
is inculcated as next to godliness. A small 
garden rightly managed will bury a great deal 
of manure, and SAveet lloAvers and rich fruit will 
rise out of tbe graves Ave have made for tbe filth; 
but amateurs must bear in mind tbat all sorts 
of filth are not manure, and good manure may 
be rendered of no Avilue by being exposed to 
drenching rains. Currants carrying heavy 
fleeces of foliage Avill recjuire plenty of Avater, 
for, as a general rule, we never give them more 
than half-rations of either good food or drink, 
and although tbe plant be a common one, it 
requires care and study to get it to perfection. 
It is only here and there tbat some exhibitor 
makes up bis collection of dishes of fruit by 
bitching in some of tbe Eibes family, just as 
some poor curate gets an invitation to dine 
Avitb tbe squire or tbe rector to fill a vacant 
chair, for the sake of appearance and effect, 
and not for an}" meiit, neither for “ value 
received.”—A lex Foksyth, Salford. 
ClIRYSANTIIElNtUM GOLD 
THREAU. 
f '^^^MONGST a batch of Japanese Cbrysan- 
tbemums, Ave find the above variety to 
'Yb be one of tbe most distinct and orna¬ 
mental. As its name indicates, it is of a beau¬ 
tiful golden colour, and for supplying cut 
flowers it is very useful, coming in as it does, 
just Avben tbe general lot of Cbiysantbemums 
is on tbe Avane. It also has tbe merit of keep¬ 
ing a long time in a cut state ; a bloom or tAvo 
under my notice Avere quite fresh after being 
cut for nearly a fortnight. Wc have some 
plants Avitb about thirty floAv-ers on, and they 
liaA'e a very striking appearance. They are the 
produce of cuttings put in last February, and 
Avben struck Avere potted on into 8-in. pots, 
and plunged out in a bed of ashes about the 
middle of May. As soon as tbe pots Avere full 
of roots, Ave commenced giving them Aveak 
manure-water, continuing this until tbe blooms 
Avere open. One caution is necessary, namely, 
not to stop them (at all events in the 
North) after the end of June, at the latest.—■ 
II. J. Clayton, Griimtoii. 
