1884.] 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
15 
— ®!he utilisation of Garden Kefuse, by 
burning and charring, is a work to be carried 
on at this season with such materials as autumn 
cleanings and winter prunings. All such materials 
should be collected, and converted into manure. 
Leaves and other things which will decompose readily 
may be partially rotted and then used as manure; 
but harder matter such as prunings require to be 
treated by fire, and weeds on account of their seeds, 
should not be rotted but burned. The main object 
in burning refuse is not merely to get it out of the 
way but to secure as many ashes as possible, as for 
many crops these are most valuable as a manure. 
In burning a heap of rubbish of any kind the flames 
should never be allowed to break through but the 
■ whole mass should smoulder until it becomes 
charred. In making up the heaps all the prunings 
should be put in the centre, and weeds and all short 
rubbish thrown over the top, and after this has been 
submitted to the action of a slow smouldering fire 
there will be a large quantity of ashes, which are of 
great value in a garden. 
— ®^HE Lady Beatrice Lambton Pine¬ 
apple, figured by us in 1879, is thus spoken 
of by Mr. D. Thomson, one of the highest 
authorities on the subject, in the Journal of Horti¬ 
culture; —“ Another year’s experience of this noble 
looking Pine fully confirms the high opinion I had 
formerly held of its superior quality as a Winter 
Pine. About twenty fruits of it have been ripened 
here this autumn, aud the very highest estimate of 
its flavour has been formed by all who have par¬ 
taken of it, and I have been asked if it was Black 
Jamaica that was handed round. Personally I con¬ 
sider that Black Jamaica is the only Pine to be 
compared to this much finer looking fruit, the flavour 
of which is superb. The juice follows the knife in 
a stream, and I know of no Pine more free from 
stringiness (if I may coin a word). It melts in the 
mouth like marrow. It has been grown to 9 lbs. 
here, and I consider it can be raised to 11 lbs. One 
peculiarity in its successful management is that it 
requires to be kept drier at the root than any other 
Pine after it shows signs of ripening, because it is so 
deep or high a fruit, and so full of juice, that if kf-pt 
moist the juice oozes from its base before it is ready 
to cut. It should also be cut with a green tinge 
upon it, and this is the stage in which all Pines are 
best flavoured in autumn and winter.” 
— ®ne of the Sussex Fig Gardens was 
recently described in the Journal of Hor¬ 
ticulture by “ Wiltshire Rector,” who writes:— 
“ While at Worthing I was driven to see the famous 
Pig garden at West Tarring, about a mile and a half 
inland. Its size is about an acre. You enter, and a 
dense mass of Pig trees, all standards, are above you; 
Pig aroma and Pig foliage envelope you, the sweet 
scent is in the air, the dark green is before your 
eyes. There is a central path and side paths, all 
narrow, and so the garden is dim with branches of 
trees, for the trees all touch each other and join over 
your head. To one who had never seen a Pig garden 
it was not only new but strange. Truth is not told, 
I fear, in that garden, for I came upon a board 
leaning against a tree, which stated that this is the 
oldest Pig tree in England, being 800 years old, and 
was planted by Thomas a Becket! No doubt it was 
an old tree, probably more than 100 years old, but 
not 800. One peculiarity in regard to this garden, 
the continental little bird, the beccafigo, or Pig- 
eater, visits this and one other garden at Sompting 
not far oflf. How does the little fellow know that he 
shall find out that he will be repaid for a fly across 
the Channel by finding a Pig garden at Tarring ? 
Verily instinct is wonderful. However it may be, 
he does know, and does come, but to no other places 
save the two named.” 
-- ^IThe value of the Paradise Stock for 
Apples has been questioned in the course of 
comments on the great Apple Show, and no 
doubt when apple trees flourish, the freestock and the 
standard orchard tree are to be preferred, at least 
on the score of bulk in the crop ; but the following 
testimony by such well-knowu growers as Messrs. 
P. & A. Hickson, of Chester, in favour of the Paiadi-e 
for small or even moderate sized private gardens, 
cannot be overlooked. They write {Qard. Chron., 
xxi. 567), “ The general Apple crop here for three 
seasons was almost a total failure, but we had very 
fair crops of excellent fruit on trees on the Paradise 
stock. This season the crop has been a wonderful 
one, and the fruit very large aud of grand quality. 
The collection of 100 varieties of Apples which we 
exhibited at the Apple Congress at Chiswick, were 
all gathered from pyramids or bashes on Paradise 
stocks growing in our nurseries here, and a better 
proof of the value of this mode of culture could not 
be given. Such sorts as Lord Suflield, Lord Gros- 
venor, Wellington, Maltster, BlenLeim Orange, 
Annie Elizabeth, Po't’s Seedling, Winter Hawthorn- 
den, Kerry Pippin, Cox’s Orange Pippin, Pea-good’s 
Nonsuch, Loddington Seedling, &c., have been very 
fine. Indeed, most varieties seem to do well upon 
this stock, many bushes not more than 2 feet high 
having two to four dozen of very large fine fruit 
upon them.” What more could be desired ? 
— (IThe Bisulphide of Carbon which is 
used to prevent the spread of the Phylloxera 
amongst Vines, is, it appears, very poisonous, 
and should be used with caution. We read in the 
papers that Californian physicians who have attended 
various cases of trouble arising from the poisonous 
properties of bisulphide of carbon, have become satis¬ 
fied that the inhalation of the vapour of this sub¬ 
stance will produce insanity, since several strong and 
healthy men who have been exposed to the fumes of 
the vile stuff have become thus affected. 
— ®HE new Grape Winter King . is 
stated to be the result of grafting Gros Colman 
on Raisin de Calabre. It has been described 
as the most handsome Grape in cultivation, being of 
a deep blue-black, which gives it a very rich appear¬ 
ance. It is of robust constitution, a free setter, 
colours freely, and is rich in flavour, bearing some 
affinity to a thoroughly well finished Hamburgh, 
but with more aroma. The foliage and general 
character of Ihe Grape is completely altered by the 
union wiih the liaisin de Calabre. On the other 
hand it is argued that “it cannot be a new variety, 
for if propagated from eyes taken from the graft 
that has been grown on the Eaisin de Calabre, there 
will doubtless be an entire reversion to the old 
variety.” This remains to be seen. 
— ^The old Crimson Clove Carnation is 
one of the best of our border flowers ; its 
colour is decided, the flowers never fail to 
open in profusion, and its fragrance is delightful. In 
the gardens at Margam, Mr. Muir, who grows it by 
scores, sajs it begins to open its blooms in June, 
never ceases producing them until late in October, 
and we can always count on having it in bloom six- 
